Variable-Stiffness Bellows for Secure Mounting and Controlled Flex

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bellows used in control elements like joysticks and sidesticks face challenges in attachment due to the nature of flexible elastomeric materials, which can lead to uncontrolled deformation and interference with movement.

Innovation Solution

A polymeric bellows body with varying stiffness, achieved through variations in material hardness and wall thickness, is designed with distinct mounting portions and manufactured using additive processes like photopolymerization to ensure secure attachment and controlled deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If flexible elastomeric material is used for the bellows, then the bellows can accommodate movement of the control element, but the attachment becomes difficult to effect in a simple manner and controlled deformation is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of control element movementVSAvoidattachment simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The bellows is designed with varying stiffness along its length, with mounting portions at each end having higher stiffness than the intermediate sections. This local quality differentiation allows the mounting portions to provide stable attachment points while the intermediate sections remain flexible to accommodate control element movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The stiffness parameter of the bellows material is varied along its length to create distinct functional zones. The mounting portions have higher stiffness parameters for stable attachment, while the intermediate sections have lower stiffness parameters for flexible movement accommodation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If flexible elastomeric material is used for the bellows, then the bellows can accommodate movement of the control element, but controlled deformation of the bellows is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of control element movementVSAvoidcontrolled deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bellows is designed with varying stiffness along its length, with mounting portions at each end having higher stiffness than the intermediate sections. This local quality differentiation allows the mounting portions to provide stable attachment points while the intermediate sections remain flexible to accommodate control element movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bellows structure transitions from static uniform flexibility to dynamic controlled flexibility, where different sections have different stiffness characteristics that change based on their functional requirements along the bellows length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If uniform stiffness is used throughout the bellows, then manufacturing is simpler, but the mounting portions cannot provide secure attachment while allowing controlled deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidsecure attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bellows is designed with varying stiffness along its length, with mounting portions at each end having higher stiffness than the intermediate sections. This local quality differentiation allows the mounting portions to provide stable attachment points while the intermediate sections remain flexible to accommodate control element movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 bellows body provides secure attachment to control elements while minimizing deformation, preventing interference with movement and maintaining the bellows' shape during use.

Implementation Method 1

The additive manufacturing process may be a photopolymerisation process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS11125330B2Bellows

Publication Date: 2021.09.21 RATIER FIGEAC SAS

AI summary

A bellows comprises a unitary bellows body extending from a first end to a second end in an axial direction. The stiffness of the bellows body varies in at least an axial direction.