Universal Joint Structure for Stable Clamping and 360° Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing universal joints for electronic products suffer from insufficient clamping force and structural instability, leading to failure of elastic members due to unstable positioning.
Innovation Solution
A universal joint design featuring a seat body, cover body, damping member, and elastic member, where the damping member and elastic member are independently installed on opposite sides of a cavity, with the elastic member fixed on the seat body and the damping member on the cover body, providing stable support and frictional resistance for omnidirectional rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the elastic member and damping member are assembled together in the same component, then the assembly process is simplified, but the positioning stability of the elastic member deteriorates, causing it to fall off easily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the universal joint into separate components: the seat body with its elastic members, and the damping member as an independent component. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and positioned independently, ensuring stable positioning of the elastic members in the seat body while maintaining ease of assembly through modular construction.
2Ease of operation
If the flexible arms of the damping member are designed to flex outward and compress elastic members, then the ball can be assembled into place, but the flexible arms are easily invalidated or damaged after multiple deflections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates the elastic members as cushioning elements that absorb and distribute the mechanical stress during assembly and operation. The elastic members provide a compliant interface between the damping member's flexible arms and the ball, reducing the risk of damage to the flexible arms through repeated deflections by cushioning the impact forces.
3Reliability
If the elastic members are wrapped around the periphery of flexible arms, then the ball can be retained in the top seat assembly, but the elastic members are easy to fall off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the elastic members from their previous configuration of being wrapped around flexible arms and repositions them as independent components integrated into the seat body structure. This extraction eliminates the instability of wrapped elastic members while preserving their retention function through a new design where elastic members are positioned within the seat body to directly support and retain the ball.
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 design ensures stable clamping and omnidirectional rotation of electronic products by preventing failure of elastic members, maintaining structural integrity and enabling 360-degree rotation.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic members release elastic force, causing the flexible arms to contract inward to contact the ball
Implementation Method 2
The damping member provides frictional resistance when the ball rotates within the top seat assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A universal joint includes a seat body, a cover body, a damping member, and an elastic member. The cover body is fixed on the seat body and the cover body and the seat body form a cavity together. The damping member and the elastic member are respectively located on opposite sides of the cavity. The elastic member is fixed on the seat body and maintained below the cover body. The damping member is fixed on the cover body and maintained above the seat body. The universal joint of the present disclosure has the beneficial effect of structural stability, avoiding the problem of insufficient clamping force or even failure.