Wire Tightening Apparatus with Segmented Spool and Winder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wire tightening systems require complex operations involving spool rotation in multiple directions for winding and unwinding, risking accidental release and being bulky with protruding parts that are prone to damage.
Innovation Solution
A wire tightening apparatus with a spool, winder, ratchet, and dial that allows for simple forward and backward rotation to wind or unwind the wire, utilizing a spiral cam and tension bars with elastic cantilever structures for secure engagement and disengagement, preventing accidental release and minimizing physical strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the spool rotates in multiple directions for winding and unwinding wire, then the wire can be both wound and unwound, but the risk of accidental release increases and the operation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separate functional components: a spool for winding wire and a winder for controlling the winding/unwinding process. The winder can engage or disengage from the spool independently, allowing winding and unwinding operations to be performed through engagement/disengagement cycles rather than complex multi-directional spool rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The winder acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user's rotational input and the spool. By engaging the winder with the spool, wire winding occurs; by disengaging, wire unwinding occurs. This intermediary control mechanism prevents accidental release while maintaining versatility.
2Ease of operation
If the entire handle is lifted up to release the cable, then the cable can be released from the spool, but the operation becomes physically demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The winder is designed to be dynamically engaged or disengaged from the spool through simple rotational motion of the dial. This dynamic engagement mechanism eliminates the need for lifting the entire handle, reducing physical strain while maintaining ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If a button protrudes upward to engage the winder and spool, then the engagement mechanism can be actuated, but the device volume increases and the button is prone to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism is moved from a vertical dimension (protruding button) to a rotational dimension (dial rotation). The dial rotates axially to engage or disengage the winder from the spool, eliminating the need for upward protruding buttons while maintaining ease of actuation.
4Productivity
If the spool and winder rotate axially as a single unit to wind the wire, then the wire can be wound efficiently, but the mechanism requires complex engagement and disengagement operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into independent spool and winder components that can engage or disengage through simple dial rotation. This segmentation allows efficient wire winding when engaged while simplifying the engagement operation compared to complex multi-step mechanisms.
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
Enables quick and convenient wire tightening and unwinding with a secure mechanism that prevents accidental release and reduces physical strain, making it suitable for users with weak grip, such as the elderly or children, while providing an optimal tension indication.
Implementation Method 1
a ratchet for axially rotating the winder in only one direction in which the wire is tightened
Implementation Method 2
tension bars with elastic cantilever structures for secure engagement and disengagement
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an apparatus for tightening wire, including: a housing (10); a spool (20) mounted to the housing to wind a wire; a winder (30) that engages with the spool to wind the wire or disengages from the same to unwind the wire; a ratchet (40) that allows axial rotation in one direction in which the wire is tightened; a spiral cam (50) where the winder and the ratchet are mounted; and a dial (60) mounted to the spiral cam to axially rotate the winder. The apparatus provides an engagement and disengagement structure that allows the spool and the winder to engage or disengage, so that, by forward and backward rotations, only the wire is wound when the spool and the winder engage and the wire is unwound when the spool and the winder disengage, thereby allowing the winding and unwinding of the wire by simple forward and backward rotating operation.