Self-Locking Water Board Fin Hinge for Folded and Stabilizing Positions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fins for navigation objects like waterboards lack a mechanism to securely transition between stabilizing and folded positions while allowing for self-blocking and removability, especially when the water height changes.
Innovation Solution
The fin incorporates two hinge components with an elastic means that deforms in compression or bending to block the wing in both stabilizing and folded positions, allowing for translation to unblock the wing, using a compression spring or bending arm, enabling stable angular positions and removability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wing is blocked in both stabilizing and folded positions using rotation blocking means borne by two hinge components, then the fin achieves self-blocking and stable angular positions independent of the navigation object, but the device complexity increases due to the additional elastic means and translational movement mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic means automatically engages and disengages the rotation blocking means during translational movement of the hinge component, enabling self-blocking without requiring external actuation or complex control mechanisms. The system serves itself by utilizing the natural elastic deformation and recovery to lock and unlock positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge component is designed to move translationally relative to the other hinge component, transforming a static blocking mechanism into a dynamic one. This translational movement allows the elastic means to engage and disengage blocking features, providing adaptive locking that responds to changes in water height and board orientation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the hinge component fastened to the wing moves translationally to unblock the wing, then the fin allows easy transition between positions and adaptability to varying water heights, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper engagement of blocking means
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking mechanism is divided into separate features on the translating hinge component and the stationary hinge component. The rotation blocking means are distributed across both components, with specific blocking features that engage at predetermined positions, reducing the overall precision requirement compared to a single complex blocking point.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic means acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the translational movement of the hinge component and the rotational blocking function. It absorbs dimensional variations and ensures reliable engagement of the blocking features through its elastic deformation, compensating for manufacturing tolerances.
3Ease of manufacture
If the elastic means deforms in compression or bending to unblock the wing, then the fin enables easy assembly and disassembly independent of the navigation object, but the loss of energy increases due to continuous elastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic means undergoes periodic deformation during the assembly and disassembly cycles, storing and releasing energy in a controlled manner. The blocking features engage and disengage periodically as the hinge component translates, allowing the elastic means to recover energy rather than dissipate it continuously.
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 fin achieves self-blocking and stable angular positions (preferably 90° apart) independent of the navigation object, ensuring effective stabilization in varying water heights and easy assembly/disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic means that deforms in compression or in bending, against the translational movement of the hinge component fastened to the wing, unblocking the wing from the stabilizing position
Implementation Method 2
The elastic means is a compression spring mounted about the axis of rotation
Implementation Method 3
an elastic means that deforms in compression or in bending, against the translational movement of the hinge component fastened to the wing
Data Source
AI summary
A fin intended for a navigation object, in particular an inflatable or rigid-shell water board, including a wing which is able to move with respect to a fastening base about an axis of rotation between a first “stabilizing” position and a second “folded” position, and a rotation blocking element for blocking the wing in the folded position, the axis of rotation being borne by two hinge components, one of which is fastened to the wing and the other to the fastening base, the hinge component fastened to the wing also being able to move translationally with respect to the hinge component fastened to the fastening base in order to unblock the wing.