Recent Patents on Mechanical Engineering - Volume 13, Issue 3, 2020

Background: Malocclusion is a disease with a high incidence rate that is harmful to humans’ health. Fixed orthodontics is an effective method for the treatment of malocclusion. However, the orthodontic process takes a long time, requires frequent visits, causes pain, and increases the risk of complications. Since orthodontic treatment is lengthy, painful and unbearable, and even leads patients to abandon orthodontic treatment, therefore, how to shorten orthodontic treatment duration, and reduce pain is a research hotspot in the orthodontic field. Objective: The study aimed to provide an overview of the existing orthodontic accelerating device and introduce their classification, characteristics and development. Methods: This paper reviewed various productions and patents related to the orthodontic accelerating device. The structural characteristics, differentiations, and applications of the existing orthodontic accelerating device are also introduced. Results: The existing orthodontic accelerating devices were analyzed and compared, and the typical characteristics were concluded. The main problems in its development were analyzed, the development trend was foreseen, and the current and future research on the productions and patents related to the orthodontic accelerating device is discussed. Conclusion: The orthodontic accelerating device is composed of a vibration device having electrical stimulation, magnetic field, a low-level laser, and an ultrasonic device according to the application of different physical loads. Orthodontic accelerating device can effectively reduce orthodontic treatment time by 30%-50%, and can reduce the risk of complications and pain. The dose of the physical load determines the effect of the device. So, an optimal loading dose should be selected . Compared with vibrating devices, other types of devices are less used in clinical practice, therefore, such products and patents should be invented in the future.

Background: Currently, there are about twenty percent of the subjects who feel pain and become uncomfortable while they are in the middle of the process of bowel disease examination by colonoscopy. Within the examination, the attending physician needs the assistance of nurses to complete the operation, which is extremely inconvenient. And there is still the chance of being hurt or infected by corrosive intestinal juice. Therefore, how to improve the efficiency of diagnosis, ensure the safety of operation, and reduce the pain of patients are the current research hotspots in the field of colonoscopy. Objective: The study aimed to provide an overview of the existing colonoscopy robots and introduce their classification and characteristics. Methods: This paper reviews various productions and patents related to the colonoscopy robot. The structural characteristics, differences and applications of the typical colonoscopy robot are also introduced. Results: The auxiliary colonoscopy robot and the active flexible colonoscopy robot were compared and analyzed, and the typical characteristics were concluded. The main problems in colonoscopy robot’s development were analyzed, and the development trend is foreseen. The current and future research works on the productions and patents on colonoscopy robots are discussed. Conclusion: Colonoscopy robot is helpful for reducing the doctor’s efforts while performing labor operation. It gives a more clear vision and offers an excellent interactive interface to make man-machine conversation easy. With the continuous improvement of technology, especially in the field of artificial intelligence and imaging processing technology, colonoscopy robot has been found to be more stable, comfortable, humanized, intelligent and secure.

Background: Micro-Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) milling is widely used in the processing of complex cavities and micro-three-dimensional structures, which is a more effective processing method for micro-precision parts. Thus, more attention has been paid on the micro-EDM milling. Objective: To meet the increasing requirement of machining quality and machining efficiency of micro- EDM milling, the processing devices and processing methods of micro-EDM milling are being improved continuously. Methods: This paper reviews various current representative patents related to the processing devices and processing methods of micro-EDM milling. Results: Through summarizing a large number of patents about processing devices and processing methods of micro-EDM milling, the main problems of current development, such as the strategy of electrode wear compensation and the development trends of processing devices and processing methods of micro-EDM milling are discussed. Conclusion: The optimization of processing devices and processing methods of micro-EDM milling are conducive to solving the problems of processing efficiency and quality. More relevant patents will be invented in the future.

Background: Valves are an important part of nuclear power plants and are the control equipment used in nuclear power plants. It can change the cross-section of the passage and the flow direction of the medium and has the functions of diversion, cutoff, overflow, and the like. Due to the earthquake, the valve leaks, which will cause a major nuclear accident, endangering people's lives and safety. Objective: The purpose of this study is to synthesize the existing valve devices, summarize and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of various devices from many literatures and patents, and solve some problems of existing valves. Methods: This article summarizes various patents of nuclear-grade valve devices and recent research progress. From the valve structure device, transmission device, a detection device, and finally to the valve test, the advantages and disadvantages of the valve are comprehensively analyzed. Results: By summarizing the characteristics of a large number of valve devices, and analyzing some problems existing in the valves, the outlook for the research and design of nuclear power valves was made, and the planning of the national nuclear power strategic goals and energy security were planned. Conclusion: Valve damage can cause serious safety accidents. The most common is valve leakage. Therefore, the safety and reliability of valves must be taken seriously. By improving the transmission of the valve, the problems of complicated valve structure and high cost are solved.

Background: According to "The World's Top Ten Chronic Diseases" published by the World Health Organization (WHO), Cervical Spondylosis, ranked second, has afflicted more youngsters and the number is still growing because of the popularity of smart devices and long-term office work. Surgical treatment is an invasive method with certain harm; in contrast, traction therapy, as a conservative treatment, can effectively relieve neck pain and oppressed nerves, which is widely accepted by doctors and patients. How to effectively guide and implement traction therapy has become a research hotspot in the field of cervical rehabilitation. Objective: To provide an overview of the existing cervical vertebra tractors and introduce their classification, characteristics, and development. Methods: This paper reviews the principles of traction therapy and various patents related to the cervical vertebra tractor. The structural characteristics, differentiations, and applications of existing cervical vertebra tractors are also introduced. Results: The existing cervical vertebra tractors are analyzed and compared, and the typical characteristics are concluded. The main problems in its development are analyzed, the development trend is foreseen, and the current and future research of the productions and patents on the cervical vertebra tractor are discussed. Conclusion: The cervical vertebra tractor is divided into a sitting and supine device according to the application of traction postural. The device can relieve the nerve, blood vessel, and spinal cord, relieve pain, and quickly relieve the symptoms of cervical spondylosis. However, the current treatment device exerts single axial traction, and the normal physiological curvature of the human cervical vertebra is similar to the shape of "C", which is not conducive to maintaining normal physiological curvature.

Background: Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) technology is widely applied for micro- manufacturing of difficult-to-process materials and complex shapes, which causes a growing demand for tool electrodes. The machining performance of an electrode eventually affects machining efficiency and accuracy and electrode loss of EDM. Thus, more researches on the electrode structures and electrode materials in the EDM process are gradually conducted. Objective: To meet the growing processing requirement of processing efficiency and accuracy and electrode loss of EDM, the electrode structures and electrode materials in the EDM process are continuously improved. Methods: This paper retraces various current representative patents relative to the electrode structures and electrode materials in the EDM process. Results: Through comparing the characteristics of different electrode structures and electrode materials in the EDM process, the current principal problems such as low machining efficiency and accuracy and serious electrode loss are concluded. Furthermore, the future development tendencies of electrode structures and electrode materials of EDM are discussed. Conclusion: The optimization of electrode structures and electrode materials in the EDM process is conducive to solve the problems of machining efficiency and accuracy and electrode loss during EDM. More correlative patents on electrode structure and electrode material will be filed in the future.

Background: As a key component of the rail transit vehicle, the railway bogie greatly affects the dynamic performance, reliability, and safety of the high-speed rail vehicle. In this paper, the structural strength of a typical trailer bogie frame is evaluated and its strength and dynamic requirements are verified. In addition, various patents on bogie structural strength have also been discussed in this paper. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate and verify the rationality of the bogie frame structure design with static strength and dynamic characteristics. Methods: A three-dimensional model of the trailer bogie frame was built by CATIA V5, and then, a finite element model of the frame was analyzed by ANSYS Workbench. Bogie frame loads, static strengths and dynamic characteristics of the frame under different conditions (straight, curve, braking and abnormal) were calculated based on its strength and design standards. Results: According to the requirement stress and dynamics standard, the maximum stress of the bogie frame was observed to be in the allowable stress value of the frame material, and the dynamic performance of the bogie model meets the design standards. Conclusion: The structural strength of the proposed bogie frame is reasonable, and the static strength and dynamic characteristics of the proposed bogie model are in accordance with the design requirements of the railway vehicle.

Background: Since the rapid development of polymers in the 1920’s, polymer products have become a necessary part of people's lives. Supercritical fluid technology was gradually introduced in this field. With the emergence of new technologies, methods, and equipment, the supercritical fluid technology has rapidly developed in the field of polymers and displayed a broad application perspective. Objective: The research progress of supercritical fluid-assisted polymer foaming, including equipment improvement, polymer composition ratio, and foaming process, and the influence of these processes on polymer foaming materials is reviewed here. Methods: Patents and research progress of supercritical fluid assisted polymer foams were reviewed. The advantages and disadvantages of various patents are analyzed in terms of cell structure, mechanical properties, surface quality, processing performance, and cost. Results: The foaming equipment and the manufacturing process of polymer foaming materials were retrospected, in order to improve the quality and application prospect of foaming composites. Conclusion: The preparation technology of supercritical fluid polymer foams has attracted wide attention. In recent years, patented technology has enabled us to use the supercritical fluid polymer foaming materials. There are some problems in the supercritical fluid foaming in terms of mechanical properties, cell structure, cell size, and processing technology, therefore, more equipment and patents are needed to solve these problems in the future.