Torque Connector Pin Retention via Segmented Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional torque structures face difficulties in easy assembly due to the ring-shaped arrangement of balls, which tend to roll and fall from toothed portions, causing inconvenience and increasing production costs.
Innovation Solution
A torque connector structure featuring a first and second body, drive members, and pins with specific receiving grooves and portions, where pins are securely held by the elastic member, preventing them from dropping and facilitating easy assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If balls are arranged in a ring-shaped structure and mounted between toothed portions, then torque transmission is achieved, but the balls easily roll and fall from the toothed portions causing assembly inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single ring-shaped ball arrangement into multiple individual ball seats arranged circumferentially. Each ball is contained within its own seat structure that includes retaining walls, preventing the balls from rolling freely as they would in a continuous ring structure. This segmentation maintains torque transmission while eliminating the rolling problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ball seats as intermediary structures between the balls and the toothed portions. These seats act as containment structures with retaining walls that hold the balls in place, preventing them from rolling off while still allowing them to function as torque transmission elements. The ball seats serve as a mediator that resolves the conflict between torque transmission and ball retention.
2Productivity
If balls are mounted between first and second engaging portions, then torque connector function is achieved, but assembly time and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the ball seat structure: it serves as both a mounting structure for the balls and a retention structure with integrating walls that prevent ball displacement. By merging the mounting and retention functions into a single integrated component, the overall assembly process is simplified and assembly time is reduced despite the added structural features.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball seats are pre-formed with integrating walls and retention features during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation of the retention structures means that during final assembly, the balls simply need to be placed into the pre-configured seats rather than requiring complex assembly steps to create retention features, thereby reducing assembly time and complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The secure retention of pins in grooves ensures easy assembly and prevents them from falling, enhancing assembly efficiency and reducing production costs while maintaining effective torque adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member (70) which is compressed between the first drive member (30) and the second drive member (40)
Implementation Method 2
Each of the pins (80) is received in each of the first receiving grooves (41) and each of the second receiving grooves (62)
Data Source
AI summary
A torque connector structure includes a first body, a second body assembled with the first body, a first drive member assembled with the first body, a second drive member received in the first body and having a plurality of first receiving grooves each having a cylindrical shape, a third drive member received in the first body and the second body, a fourth drive member mounted on the third drive member and having a plurality of second receiving grooves, an elastic member biased between the first drive member and the second drive member, and a plurality of pins received between the first receiving grooves and the second receiving grooves. The second drive member and the first drive member are driven simultaneously.