Steering lamp driving mechanism based on shape memory alloy

Abstract

The invention discloses a steering lamp driving mechanism based on shape memory alloy, and relates to the technical field of steering lamp driving. Comprising a frame, a lamp set module and a memory alloy driving module are arranged on the frame, the memory alloy driving module comprises diverters fixed to the two sides of the frame through screws, and four nickel-titanium driving wire pipes are connected between the diverters and the lamp set module; a control module is fixedly arranged on the frame through screws and used for receiving a steering angle signal from a steering wheel or a control system, and corresponding current is transmitted to the diverter through an internal circuit and a flat cable. The diverter receives an instruction of the control module and independently applies different currents to each nickel-titanium driving wire tube so as to control the expansion amount of the nickel-titanium driving wire tubes and further control the lamp bank module to rotate; the shape memory alloy is adopted as a driving element, a solid-state driving mode without a transmission gear and an electric brush is achieved, and the driving device can adapt to the harsh using environment of the special vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of turn signal drive technology, and particularly to a turn signal drive mechanism based on shape memory alloy. Background Technology

[0002] Special vehicles often operate in adverse road conditions. Traditional fixed-beam headlights, unable to adjust their illumination direction when the vehicle turns, create large blind spots on the inside of curves, severely impairing the driver's ability to identify obstacles, pedestrians, or road shoulders, greatly increasing the risk of accidents. Currently, common turn signal drive solutions mainly include the following two: 1. Motor-driven type: This type uses a stepper motor or servo motor, along with gears, bearings and other transmission mechanisms to drive the entire lamp assembly to rotate. Its disadvantages are: complex structure, containing multiple precision mechanical parts, which are prone to wear, jamming or failure under strong vibration and impact environments; the motor itself has wear parts such as brushes, which have a limited lifespan and are difficult to adapt to the harsh working conditions of special vehicles.

[0003] II. Solenoid valve / sowary driven type: This type uses electromagnetic force to drive a mechanism for limited-angle oscillation. Its disadvantages are: the deflection angle is fixed and cannot be adjusted to multiple angles; the impact of the action is large, the noise is obvious, and the lifespan is short, making it difficult to meet the high reliability and durability requirements of special vehicles.

[0004] Based on this, the present invention proposes a turn signal drive mechanism, which uses shape memory alloy as the drive element to achieve a solid-state drive method without transmission gears or brushes. It has the advantages of high impact resistance, compact structure, low noise and long service life, and can adapt to the harsh operating environment of special vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention utilizes shape memory alloys as driving elements to achieve a solid-state drive method without transmission gears or brushes. This method offers advantages such as high impact resistance, compact structure, low noise, and long lifespan, making it suitable for the harsh operating environments of special vehicles.

[0006] The technical solution used in this invention is as follows: a turn signal drive mechanism based on shape memory alloy, comprising a frame, on which a lamp assembly module shape memory alloy drive module is disposed, the shape memory alloy drive module including a splitter fixed to both sides of the frame with screws, and four nickel-titanium drive wire tubes connected between the splitter and the lamp assembly module; a control module is fixed to the frame with screws, used to receive steering angle signals from the steering wheel or control system, and transmit the corresponding current to the splitter via a ribbon cable through an internal circuit; the splitter receives instructions from the control module and independently applies different currents to each nickel-titanium drive wire tube to control the extension and contraction of the nickel-titanium drive wire tube, thereby controlling the rotation of the lamp assembly module; its basic principle is to utilize the phase change contraction of the nickel-titanium drive wire tube when heated by electricity, and drive the lamp assembly to swing left and right through tension, thereby adjusting the beam direction.

[0007] As a preferred embodiment, the lamp assembly module includes a lamp bead mounting base rotatably mounted on a frame. One end of the lamp bead mounting base is provided with the lamp assembly body. Shafts are respectively provided on the upper and lower sides of the lamp bead mounting base, and the lamp bead mounting base is rotatably mounted on the frame through the shafts.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment, the end of the lamp bead mounting base is fixedly provided with a connecting part, one end of the nickel-titanium drive wire tube is connected to the shunt by a screw, and the other end of the nickel-titanium drive wire tube is connected to the connecting part by a screw.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment, the distributor is threadedly connected to an adjusting screw, the threaded end of which is connected to a connecting seat, and a tension spring is connected to the connecting seat. One end of the tension spring is connected to the connecting part, which is used to correct the center angle of the lamp group during the production and debugging stage to prevent angle skew caused by installation deviation.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment, a magnetic encoder is fixedly installed on the frame at the location of the shaft system by screws and sealant. This encoder is used to detect the deflection angle of the lamp module in real time and feed the angle signal back to the control module for closed-loop control and angle correction.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment, the frame is made of aluminum alloy; the lamp module uses polycarbonate as the outer shell material; the frame serves as the main support structure, and all components are installed on the frame with screws; the frame itself is also used to fix the entire device to the vehicle lighting assembly.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment, the casing of the shunt is made of engineering plastic with a thickness of 4mm; the control module adopts an MSP430 series microcontroller.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment, the magnetic encoder is made of a combination of plastic and metal, with the housing made of plastic and the encoder wheel made of aluminum; it uses an AMSAS5040 rotary encoder.

[0014] The advantages of this invention compared to the prior art are: (1) The shape memory effect generated by the current heating of the memory alloy drive module is realized by the fast response drive mode. Compared with the traditional mechanical drive and electric motor, the shape memory alloy can complete the stretching movement in a short time, achieving more flexible real-time adjustment, so that the turn signal can react in time on different driving paths; (2) The application of shape memory alloy makes the overall design of the turn signal drive mechanism more compact and reduces the weight of the vehicle lighting system. Lightweight design not only helps reduce the total weight of the vehicle, thereby improving fuel / battery efficiency, but also reduces the burden on the vehicle's suspension system; (3) The use of high-quality materials and precision components can effectively improve the overall reliability and durability of the device; in particular, shape memory alloys have high corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance, and can cope with factors such as high temperature, humidity and vibration in the automotive working environment, thus extending the service life; (4) Closed-loop control is achieved by combining the control module with the magnetic encoder; the vehicle control system can obtain the steering angle of the steering wheel in real time, and feed back the actual deflection angle of the lamp group through the encoder to ensure the accuracy of the beam direction; (5) The use of tension spring adjustment screws makes it convenient to adjust the center angle of the lamp group, and can quickly solve the problem of angle deviation in the production and sales stages; the overall modular design makes fault detection and component replacement easier and the maintenance cost low. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the lamp module structure of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the shape memory alloy drive module structure of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a partial structural diagram of the shape memory alloy drive module of the present invention.

[0019] Reference numerals: 1-Frame; 2-Lamp assembly body; 201-Lamp bead mounting base; 202-Shaft system; 203-Connecting part; 3-Magnetic encoder; 4-Control module; 5-Diverter; 6-Ni-Ti drive wire tube; 7-Adjusting screw; 8-Connecting seat; 9-Tension spring. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, a turn signal drive mechanism based on shape memory alloy includes a frame 1, on which a lamp assembly module and a shape memory alloy drive module are mounted. The shape memory alloy drive module includes a splitter 5 fixed to both sides of the frame 1 with screws. Four nickel-titanium drive wire tubes 6 are connected between the splitter 5 and the lamp assembly module. A control module 4 is fixed to the frame 1 with screws to receive steering angle signals from the steering wheel or control system and transmits the corresponding current to the splitter 5 via a ribbon cable through an internal circuit. The splitter 5 receives instructions from the control module 4 and applies different currents to each nickel-titanium drive wire tube 6 independently to control the extension and contraction of the nickel-titanium drive wire tube 6, thereby controlling the rotation of the lamp assembly module. The basic principle is to control the phase change and contraction of the nickel-titanium drive wire tube 6 when it is heated by electricity, and drive the lamp assembly to swing left and right through the tension, thereby adjusting the beam direction.

[0022] The lamp assembly module includes a lamp bead mounting base 201 that is rotatably mounted on a frame 1. One end of the lamp bead mounting base 201 is provided with the lamp assembly body 2. Shaft systems 202 are respectively provided on the upper and lower sides of the lamp bead mounting base 201. The lamp bead mounting base 201 is rotatably mounted on the frame 1 through the shaft systems 202.

[0023] The lamp bead mounting base 201 has a connecting part 203 fixedly provided at its end. One end of the nickel-titanium drive wire tube 6 is connected to the shunt 5 by a screw, and the other end of the nickel-titanium drive wire tube 6 is connected to the connecting part 203 by a screw.

[0024] The shunt 5 is connected to an adjusting screw 7 by a thread. The threaded end of the adjusting screw 7 is connected to a connecting seat 8. A tension spring 9 is connected to the connecting seat 8. One end of the tension spring 9 is connected to the connecting part 203. This is used to correct the center angle of the lamp group during the production and debugging stage to prevent the angle from being skewed due to installation deviation.

[0025] A magnetic encoder 3 is fixedly installed on the frame 1 at the location of the shaft system 202 by screws and sealant. It is used to detect the deflection angle of the lamp module in real time and feed the angle signal back to the control module 4 for closed-loop control and angle correction.

[0026] Frame 1 is made of aluminum alloy, which is high in strength, lightweight and corrosion resistant. In addition, it can be anodized to improve corrosion resistance. Frame 1 serves as the main support structure, and all components are installed on the frame with screws. The frame itself is also used to fix the entire device to the vehicle lighting assembly.

[0027] The lamp module uses polycarbonate as the shell material, which has sufficient strength and good heat dissipation performance; the shunt 5 shell is made of 4mm thick engineering plastic, which is lightweight and durable and can withstand current and heat; the control module 4 uses an MSP430 series microcontroller, which is suitable for signal processing and control; the magnetic encoder 3 is made of a combination of plastic and metal, with a plastic shell and an aluminum encoder wheel; it uses an AMSAS5040 rotary encoder, which has high precision and is easy to integrate with the microcontroller.

[0028] In practical use, the control module 4 receives the steering angle signal from the steering wheel or control system, and transmits the corresponding current to the splitter 5 via the internal circuit through the ribbon cable. The splitter 5 receives the instructions from the control module 4 and applies different currents to each nickel-titanium drive wire tube 6 independently to control its extension and retraction, thereby driving the lamp group to swing left and right through the pulling force, thereby adjusting the beam direction.

[0029] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention, and no reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0030] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A turn signal drive mechanism based on shape memory alloy, comprising a frame (1), characterized in that: The frame (1) is provided with a lamp assembly module memory alloy drive module. The memory alloy drive module includes a splitter (5) fixed to both sides of the frame (1) with screws. Four nickel-titanium drive wire tubes (6) are connected between the splitter (5) and the lamp assembly module. A control module (4) is fixed to the frame (1) with screws. It is used to receive the steering angle signal from the steering wheel or control system and transmit the corresponding current to the splitter (5) through the internal circuit via the ribbon cable. The splitter (5) receives the instruction from the control module (4) and applies different currents to each nickel-titanium drive wire tube (6) independently to control the extension and retraction of the nickel-titanium drive wire tube (6), thereby controlling the rotation of the lamp assembly module.

2. The turn signal drive mechanism based on shape memory alloy according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lamp assembly module includes a lamp bead mounting base (201) that is rotatably mounted on a frame (1). A lamp assembly body (2) is provided at one end of the lamp bead mounting base (201). Shaft systems (202) are provided on the upper and lower sides of the lamp bead mounting base (201). The lamp bead mounting base (201) is rotatably mounted on the frame (1) through the shaft systems (202).

3. A turn signal drive mechanism based on shape memory alloy according to claim 2, characterized in that: The lamp bead mounting base (201) is fixedly provided with a connecting part (203) at its end. One end of the nickel-titanium drive wire tube (6) is connected to the splitter (5) by a screw, and the other end of the nickel-titanium drive wire tube (6) is connected to the connecting part (203) by a screw.

4. A turn signal drive mechanism based on shape memory alloy according to claim 3, characterized in that: The shunt (5) is threaded with an adjusting screw (7), the threaded end of the adjusting screw (7) is connected to a connecting seat (8), the connecting seat (8) is connected to a tension spring (9), one end of the tension spring (9) is connected to the connecting part (203) for correcting the center angle of the lamp module.

5. A turn signal drive mechanism based on shape memory alloy according to claim 2, characterized in that: A magnetic encoder (3) is fixedly installed on the frame (1) at the location of the shaft system (202) by screws and sealant. It is used to detect the deflection angle of the lamp module in real time and feed the angle signal back to the control module (4) for closed-loop control and angle correction.

6. A turn signal drive mechanism based on shape memory alloy according to claim 1, characterized in that: The frame (1) is made of aluminum alloy; the lamp module is made of polycarbonate as the shell material.

7. A turn signal drive mechanism based on shape memory alloy according to claim 1, characterized in that: The casing of the shunt (5) is made of engineering plastic with a thickness of 4 mm; the control module (4) adopts an MSP430 series microcontroller.

8. A turn signal drive mechanism based on shape memory alloy according to claim 5, characterized in that: The magnetic encoder (3) is made of a combination of plastic and metal, with the outer shell made of plastic and the encoder wheel made of aluminum; it adopts an AMSAS5040 rotary encoder.

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