Touring Binding Front Unit Wear-Reducing Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touring bindings experience increased wear on the locking and counter-locking sections due to high friction forces, leading to premature component failure and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a wear-reducing element between the locking section of the blocking lever and the counter-locking section of the base body, utilizing harder materials and optimized geometries to reduce friction and extend the product life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the locking section of the blocking lever and the counter-locking section of the base body are made of plastic for lightweight construction, then the weight is reduced, but the wear resistance deteriorates due to high friction forces
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking lever combines plastic material for the main body (providing lightweight construction) with a wear-reducing element made of harder, more wear-resistant material (providing durability at the contact surface). This composite approach resolves the contradiction between weight reduction and wear resistance by applying different material properties to different functional areas of the same component.
Solution Approach 2:
The wear-reducing element is applied specifically to the locking section where high friction forces act, rather than making the entire blocking lever from wear-resistant material. This localized application provides wear protection exactly where needed while maintaining the overall lightweight plastic construction of the blocking lever.
2Reliability
If harder materials are used for the locking section to reduce wear, then the wear resistance is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The wear-reducing element acts as an intermediary component between the plastic locking section and the counter-locking section of the base body. It transfers the locking function while protecting the plastic surfaces from direct high-friction contact, thereby reducing wear without requiring a complete redesign of the blocking lever assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking lever is segmented into distinct functional areas: the main body made of plastic and the locking section enhanced with a wear-reducing element. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a front unit (10) for a touring binding, which is to be mounted on a ski board, wherein the front unit (10) is adjustable between a release position, a downhill position and a walk position, and wherein the front unit (10) comprises a base body (12) which is configured to be attached to a ski board surface, a left and a right bearing section (16) which are configured to engage lateral counter-bearing sections of a ski board boot in the walk position and in the downhill position and to release them in the release position, a locking lever (28) which has an operating section (32) and a detent section (34), wherein the locking lever (28) is configured to adjust the bearing sections (16) between the downhill position and the walk position, and wherein the locking lever (28) is further configured tothe locking section (34) of the locking lever (28) interacts with a counter-locking section (14) provided on the base body (12) to lock the bearing sections (16) in the walking position, and comprises a wear-reducing element (50) which is arranged to be positioned between the locking section (34) of the locking lever (28) and the counter-locking section (14) of the base body (12) in the walking position of the front unit (10).