Retractable pusher device for narrow spaces and method of use

Abstract

This invention discloses a telescopic jacking device and its method of use for confined spaces, including a base, a jacking component, and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a drive rod, a rotating component, a connecting screw, and a transmission mechanism. The rotating component is rotatably and axially limited and mounted on either the base or the jacking component, while the connecting screw is fixedly connected to the other. The drive rod can move axially to a first position or a second position. In the first position, rotating in a first direction drives the jacking component to extend; in the second position, rotating in the opposite direction drives the jacking component to retract. The drive rod is fitted onto the rotating component. The transmission mechanism uses forward and reverse helical gears that mesh with the drive teeth to achieve unidirectional transmission. The helix angle of the connecting screw is less than the equivalent friction angle, providing a self-locking function. This invention has a compact structure, with the operating direction and telescopic direction being the same. It is suitable for confined spaces with a single axial channel, such as pipes and gaps, and is convenient, safe, and reliable to operate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of machinery, and in particular to a telescopic jacking device and its method of use for use in confined spaces. Background Technology

[0002] In many engineering operations, it is often necessary to apply thrust between two opposing surfaces to push, support, or position components. When the work space is relatively open, operators can use conventional tools such as hydraulic jacks, ratchet wrenches, and screw mechanisms to complete the operation. However, when the work surface is located in a confined space such as a narrow gap, inside a pipe, or within an equipment compartment, existing tools reveal significant limitations.

[0003] The existing jacking tools have the following main problems in practical applications: First, traditional hydraulic jacks are large in size, making them difficult to place and operate in narrow spaces. Furthermore, the configuration of hydraulic lines and manual pumps further increases space requirements, making operation extremely inconvenient. Second, while conventional mechanical struts have a relatively compact structure, they can usually only apply thrust when extended. Retraction requires external tools or reverse operation, making the process cumbersome. Additionally, some struts are difficult to remove from narrow gaps after the thrust is released. Third, most existing telescopic tools lack the transmission characteristic that the operating direction is in the same direction as the thrust. When the operating space is only a narrow channel in one direction, the operator cannot apply torque from the side, rendering the tool unusable. Fourth, some tools lack a self-locking function after extension, and may slowly retract under continuous force, affecting operational safety and reliability.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a telescopic jacking device with a compact structure, an operating direction consistent with the telescopic direction, bidirectional drive capability, and self-locking function, to meet the actual needs of various confined space operation scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a telescopic pushing device and a method of use for confined spaces. The device can not only achieve stable extension and retraction of the pushing component, but also the operating direction is the same as the telescopic direction, making it particularly suitable for confined environments where the operating space is only a single axial channel.

[0006] The present invention provides a telescopic jacking device for confined spaces, comprising a base, a jacking member, and a driving assembly disposed between the base and the jacking member, wherein the jacking member can be driven to extend outward or retract inward relative to the base.

[0007] The drive assembly includes a drive rod, a rotating component, a connecting screw threaded to the rotating component, and a transmission mechanism disposed between the drive rod and the rotating component; the rotating component is mounted on one of the base and the pusher in a rotatable and axially limited manner, and one end of the connecting screw is fixedly connected to the other of the base and the pusher;

[0008] The drive rod can move along the axial direction of the rotating member between a first position and a second position. When rotating in the first position along a first direction, the transmission mechanism drives the rotating member to rotate in the first rotation direction to extend the push member. When rotating in the second position along a second direction opposite to the first direction, the transmission mechanism drives the rotating member to rotate in the opposite second rotation direction to retract the push member.

[0009] Furthermore, the drive rod is mounted on the rotating member and can move between the first position and the second position along the axis of the rotating member.

[0010] Furthermore, the transmission mechanism includes a first gear and a second gear coaxially disposed at both ends of the rotating member, and the mating end of the drive rod is provided with two drive teeth, which respectively mesh with the first gear and the second gear. The drive rod selectively causes one of the drive teeth to mesh with the corresponding gear by axial movement.

[0011] Furthermore, the first gear is a forward helical gear with a first direction of rotation, and the second gear is a reverse helical gear with a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation. The forward and reverse helical gears are arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner.

[0012] Furthermore, both the forward helical gear and the reverse helical gear have an arc-shaped ratchet structure with a gradually changing radius along their circumference;

[0013] The drive tooth section has drive teeth that mesh with the arc-shaped ratchet structure;

[0014] When the drive rod rotates in the first direction and drives the currently engaged gear, the drive teeth mesh with the arc-shaped ratchet structure to transmit torque; when the drive rod rotates in the opposite direction, relative sliding occurs between the drive teeth and the arc-shaped ratchet structure, preventing torque transmission.

[0015] Furthermore, when the drive rod moves to the first position and rotates in the first direction, a drive tooth meshes with the positive helical gear, driving the rotating member to rotate in the first rotation direction, causing the pusher to extend;

[0016] When the drive rod moves to the second position and rotates in the opposite second direction, another drive tooth meshes with the reverse helical gear, driving the rotating member to rotate in the second rotation direction, causing the push member to retract.

[0017] Furthermore, the helix angle of the connecting screw is less than the equivalent friction angle.

[0018] Furthermore, the base is provided with at least one of bolt connection holes, buckles, or magnetic structures for detachably fixing the telescopic pushing device to an external component.

[0019] A method of using the telescopic jacking device as described in any of the preceding claims, comprising:

[0020] S1. Fix the base to the surface of the first component;

[0021] S2. Move the drive rod to the first position, rotate the drive rod in the first direction, so that the pusher extends outward and abuts against the surface of the second component, generating a thrust to make the first component and the second component move away from each other;

[0022] S3. When it is necessary to release the thrust, move the drive rod to the second position, rotate the drive rod in the second direction to retract the pusher inward, and remove the device.

[0023] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The telescopic jacking device for confined spaces of this invention, through its structural design of selecting the meshing object by axial movement of the drive rod, achieves bidirectional drive control of a single operating rod. The operating direction is the same as the telescopic direction, fundamentally solving the operational problem of applying torque from the side in confined spaces. The cooperation between the arc-shaped ratchet structure and the drive teeth enables unidirectional transmission function that transmits torque only in one rotational direction and slips in the opposite direction, eliminating the need for additional complex mechanisms such as ratchet wheels and pawls, resulting in a more compact and reliable structure. The self-locking design of the connecting screw ensures that the jacking component will not automatically retract under force, improving operational safety. The coaxial layout of the drive rod fitted onto the rotating component minimizes the radial dimension of the device, allowing it to operate in extremely narrow gaps. This invention is compact in structure, easy to operate, and can be widely applied to various confined space operation scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Drive rod; 2. Base; 3. Pushing component; 4. Forward helical gear; 5. Reverse helical gear; 6. Rotating component; 7. Connecting screw. Detailed Implementation

[0028] This embodiment of a telescopic jacking device for confined spaces includes a base 2, a jacking member 3, and a drive assembly disposed between the base 2 and the jacking member 3. The jacking member 3 can be driven to extend outward or retract inward relative to the base 2. The device has an overall slender rod-like structure with compact radial dimensions, making it easy to insert into narrow gaps, inside pipes, or in equipment compartments where operating space is limited. The base 2 serves as the fixed end of the device, providing a supporting foundation for the entire drive assembly; the jacking member 3 serves as the movable end of the device, achieving telescopic movement through the transmission of the drive assembly, applying or releasing thrust to external components.

[0029] The drive assembly includes a drive rod 1, a rotating component 6, a connecting screw 7 threadedly engaged with the rotating component 6, and a transmission mechanism disposed between the drive rod 1 and the rotating component 6. The rotating component 6 is mounted on one of the base 2 and the pusher 3 in a rotatable and axially limited manner, and one end of the connecting screw 7 is fixedly connected to the other of the base 2 and the pusher 3. The rotating component 6 remains fixed in its axial position within the base 2 or the pusher 3, and can only rotate around its own axis, ensuring that the rotational motion can be stably transmitted to the connecting screw 7. The threaded engagement between the connecting screw 7 and the rotating component 6 converts the rotational motion of the rotating component 6 into the axial linear motion of the connecting screw 7, thereby driving the pusher 3 to extend or retract. The transmission mechanism acts as a motion transmission bridge between the drive rod 1 and the rotating component 6, allowing the operator to complete all extension and retraction operations at the end of the device without applying torque from the side.

[0030] The drive rod 1 can move along the axial direction of the rotating member 6 between a first position and a second position. When rotating in the first position along a first direction, the transmission mechanism drives the rotating member 6 to rotate in the first rotation direction to extend the push member 3. When rotating in the second position along a second direction opposite to the first direction, the transmission mechanism drives the rotating member 6 to rotate in the opposite second rotation direction to retract the push member 3. The axial position switching of the drive rod 1 is the key link of the reversing control of this invention: the operator only needs to push and pull the drive rod 1 along the axis of the device to switch the meshing relationship inside the transmission mechanism and change the rotation direction of the rotating member 6, thereby realizing that the same drive rod 1 can control the extension and retraction of the push member 3 under the same rotation operation habit. This operation method makes the rotation operation direction of the drive rod 1 completely the same as the extension and retraction movement direction of the push member 3, which is extremely suitable for narrow spaces with only a single axial operation channel.

[0031] In this embodiment, the drive rod 1 is mounted on the rotating member 6 and can move between the first position and the second position along the axis of the rotating member 6. The coaxial mounting structure of the drive rod 1 and the rotating member 6 allows them to share the same axial space, eliminating the need for additional radially arranged reversing handles or shift forks, further compressing the radial profile of the device. This enables it to enter narrower working gaps and also makes the axial push-pull reversing operation of the device more intuitive and smooth.

[0032] In this embodiment, the transmission mechanism includes a first gear and a second gear coaxially disposed at both ends of the rotating member 6. The mating end of the drive rod 1 is provided with two drive teeth, which mesh with the first gear and the second gear respectively. The drive rod 1 selectively engages one of its drive teeth with the corresponding gear through axial movement. The two drive teeth are arranged axially spaced apart. When the drive rod 1 is pushed into the first position, the drive tooth at the front end meshes with the first gear, and the other drive tooth disengages from the second gear. When the drive rod 1 is pulled out to the second position, the drive tooth at the rear end meshes with the second gear, and the other drive tooth disengages from the first gear. This selective engagement method is simple and reliable, requiring no complex shift fork or synchronizer mechanism; reversing can be completed simply by pushing and pulling the drive rod 1.

[0033] In this embodiment, the first gear is a forward helical gear 4 with a first direction of rotation, and the second gear is a reverse helical gear 5 with a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation. The forward helical gear 4 and the reverse helical gear 5 are arranged in a mirror-symmetrical configuration. This mirror-symmetrical arrangement ensures that the helical tooth surfaces of the two gears face opposite directions, so that when the drive rod 1 operates in the same direction of rotation, the rotational directions transmitted via the different gears are exactly opposite. When the first drive tooth meshes with the forward helical gear 4, the rotation of the drive rod 1 in the first direction is transmitted through the forward helical gear 4, giving the rotating component 6 a first direction of rotation. When the second drive tooth meshes with the reverse helical gear 5, the rotation of the drive rod 1 in the second direction is transmitted through the reverse helical gear 5, giving the rotating component 6 an opposite second direction of rotation. This design ensures that after reversing, the operator's rotational operating habits remain unchanged; simply pushing or pulling the drive rod 1 is sufficient to achieve telescopic reversal.

[0034] In this embodiment, both the forward helical gear 4 and the reverse helical gear 5 have an arc-shaped ratchet structure with a gradually changing radius along its circumference; the driving tooth has driving teeth that mesh with the arc-shaped ratchet structure; when the driving rod 1 rotates in the first direction and drives the currently meshing gear, the driving teeth mesh with the arc-shaped ratchet structure to transmit torque; when the driving rod 1 rotates in the opposite direction, relative sliding occurs between the driving teeth and the arc-shaped ratchet structure, preventing torque transmission. The gradually changing radius design of the arc-shaped ratchet structure is the core feature of this device to achieve unidirectional transmission: in the driving direction, the meshing surface of the driving teeth and the arc-shaped ratchet forms a positive lock, and the torque can be stably transmitted; in the non-driving direction, the curved surface of the arc-shaped ratchet causes the contact angle between the driving teeth and the tooth surface to change, and the two cannot form an effective mesh, and the driving teeth slide over the ratchet surface, resulting in slippage. This one-way transmission mechanism eliminates the need for additional independent one-way mechanisms such as ratchet, pawl, or one-way bearings. It integrates the one-way transmission function directly into the transmission gear itself, greatly simplifying the internal structure of the device, reducing the number of parts, and improving reliability and compactness.

[0035] In this embodiment, when the drive rod 1 moves to the first position and rotates in the first direction, one drive tooth meshes with the forward helical gear 4, driving the rotating member 6 to rotate in the first rotation direction, causing the pusher member 3 to extend; when the drive rod 1 moves to the second position and rotates in the opposite second direction, another drive tooth meshes with the reverse helical gear 5, driving the rotating member 6 to rotate in the second rotation direction, causing the pusher member 3 to retract. Thus, the operator only needs to perform two simple actions—pushing and pulling the drive rod 1 axially to select the position, and rotating the drive rod 1 circumferentially to input torque—to complete the entire extension and retraction control of the pusher member 3. The operation logic is clear and easy to master, allowing a single person to efficiently complete the operation.

[0036] In this embodiment, the helix angle of the connecting screw 7 is smaller than the equivalent friction angle. A helix angle smaller than the equivalent friction angle is a classic mechanical condition for self-locking of threaded pairs. Under this condition, regardless of the axial load on the pusher 3, the frictional torque between the threaded pairs is always greater than the driving torque generated by the axial force, and the connecting screw 7 will not rotate back due to the axial load. This means that after the pusher 3 extends and bears the external load, even if the operator releases the drive rod 1, the pusher 3 will not automatically retract, ensuring safety and reliability during operation and avoiding operator fatigue caused by continuously holding the operating rod.

[0037] In this embodiment, the base 2 is provided with at least one of bolt connection holes, snap-fit, or magnetic attraction structures for detachably fixing the telescopic pushing device to an external component. The detachable connection method allows the device to be quickly installed on the surface of the component to be worked on and easily removed after the work is completed, meeting the needs of temporary support and multiple reuses. Bolt connection holes are suitable for applications requiring firm fixation and can withstand greater reaction forces; snap-fit ​​structures are suitable for applications requiring quick engagement and disengagement, offering convenient and efficient operation; magnetic attraction structures are suitable for steel component surfaces, enabling rapid adsorption and positioning without drilling. The combination of multiple connection methods allows the device to adapt to external components of different materials and structures.

[0038] This application also discloses a method of using a telescopic jacking device, including:

[0039] S1. Fix the base 2 to the surface of the first component. Depending on the material and structural characteristics of the first component, it can be fastened by bolts through bolt connection holes, snapped by a snap-fit ​​structure, or fixed by magnetic attraction structure to ensure that the device remains stable during the pushing operation.

[0040] S2. Move the drive rod 1 to the first position, rotate the drive rod 1 in the first direction, so that the push member 3 extends outward and abuts against the surface of the second component, generating a thrust to make the first component and the second component move away from each other. Continue to rotate the drive rod 1 until the required push distance or thrust is reached. During this process, the self-locking characteristic of the connecting screw 7 ensures that the push member 3 will not retract when subjected to force.

[0041] S3. When it is necessary to release the thrust, move the drive rod 1 to the second position, rotate the drive rod 1 in the second direction to make the jacking member 3 retract inward, take out the device, and complete a complete jacking operation cycle. The device can be moved to another site for repeated use.

[0042] The method of use is clear and easy to operate, requiring low skill levels from operators, and significantly improves the efficiency of jacking operations in confined spaces.

[0043] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A telescopic pusher device for use in tight spaces, characterized by: The device comprises a base, a pushing piece and a driving assembly arranged between the base and the pushing piece, the pushing piece can be driven to extend outward or retract inward relative to the base; The driving assembly comprises a driving rod, a rotating piece, a connecting screw threadedly engaged with the rotating piece, and a transmission mechanism arranged between the driving rod and the rotating piece; the rotating piece is installed in one of the base and the pushing piece in a manner of only being rotatable and being axially limited, one end of the connecting screw is fixedly connected with the other one of the base and the pushing piece; The driving rod can move along the axial direction of the rotating piece between a first position and a second position, when rotating in a first direction at the first position, the rotating piece is driven to rotate in a first rotation direction by the transmission mechanism to realize the extension of the pushing piece; when rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction at the second position, the rotating piece is driven to rotate in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction by the transmission mechanism to realize the retraction of the pushing piece.

2. The telescopic pushing device for narrow space according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving rod is sleeved on the rotating piece and can move along the axial direction of the rotating piece between the first position and the second position.

3. The telescopic push-pull device for tight spaces according to claim 2, characterized in that: The transmission mechanism comprises a first gear and a second gear coaxially arranged at both ends of the rotating piece, the engaging end of the driving rod is provided with two driving teeth, the two driving teeth are respectively engaged with the first gear and the second gear, and the driving rod selectively engages one of the driving teeth with the corresponding gear by axial movement.

4. The telescopic pushing device for narrow space according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first gear is a forward helical gear with a first rotation direction, and the second gear is a reverse helical gear with a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, and the forward helical gear and the reverse helical gear are mirror-symmetrically arranged.

5. The telescopic pushing device for narrow space according to claim 4, characterized in that: The forward helical gear and the reverse helical gear both have an arc-shaped ratchet structure with a gradually changing radius along the circumferential direction; The driving teeth have driving teeth engaged with the arc-shaped ratchet structure; When the driving rod rotates in the first direction and drives the currently engaged gear, the driving teeth engage with the arc-shaped ratchet structure to transmit torque; when the driving rod rotates in the opposite direction, the driving teeth and the arc-shaped ratchet structure slide relative to each other to prevent torque transmission.

6. The telescopic pushing device for tight spaces according to claim 5, characterized in that: When the driving rod moves to the first position and rotates in the first direction, one of the driving teeth engages with the forward helical gear to drive the rotating piece to rotate in the first rotation direction, so that the pushing piece extends; When the driving rod moves to the second position and rotates in the opposite second direction, the other driving tooth engages with the reverse helical gear to drive the rotating piece to rotate in the second rotation direction, so that the pushing piece retracts.

7. The telescopic pushing device for tight space according to claim 1, characterized in that: The helix angle of the connecting screw is smaller than the equivalent friction angle.

8. The telescopic pushing device for tight space according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base is provided with at least one of a bolt connection hole, a buckle or a magnetic attraction structure for detachably fixing the telescopic pushing device to an external member.

9. A method of use of the telescopic pusher device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The device comprises: S1, fixing the base to the surface of the first member; S2. Move the drive rod to the first position, rotate the drive rod in the first direction, so that the pusher extends outward and abuts against the surface of the second component, generating a thrust to make the first component and the second component move away from each other; S3. When it is necessary to release the thrust, move the drive rod to the second position, rotate the drive rod in the second direction to retract the pusher inward, and remove the device.

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