Actuating Device Clutch Ring Shock Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromechanical actuators used in vehicles for rotating components like mirrors and cameras are noisy, heavy, and large due to the need for high-strength metallic parts to withstand shock loads, making them costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An actuating device comprising a shaft with detent teeth, a housing with tabs and engagement grooves, a clutch ring with cam surfaces and detent recesses, and a motor drive that allows for rotational and translational movements, reducing the need for heavy metallic parts by using a clutch ring to isolate the motor drive from impacts and enabling efficient component positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high strength metallic parts (e.g., gearing) are used to withstand shock loads, then reliability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
A clutch ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the motor drive and the housing. The clutch ring includes cam surfaces that interact with cam followers on the drive gear, and detent teeth that engage with detent recesses in the housing. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to withstand shock loads without requiring the entire actuator structure to be heavy-duty metallic, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is segmented into distinct functional components: a motor drive, a drive gear, a clutch ring, and a housing. Each component has specific engagement features (cam surfaces, cam followers, detent teeth, detent recesses) that work together to handle shock loads. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function rather than requiring all parts to be heavy-duty metallic components.
2Reliability
If high strength metallic parts are used to withstand shock loads, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into the clutch ring component. It serves as both a transmission element (through cam surfaces interacting with cam followers) and a locking element (through detent teeth engaging with detent recesses). This merging reduces the number of separate heavy-duty metallic components needed, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining the ability to withstand shock loads.
3Ease of operation
If traditional electromechanical actuators are used, then component rotation is achieved, but noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional direct mechanical gear train is replaced with a cam-based mechanism. The cam surfaces on the clutch ring interact with cam followers on the drive gear to convert rotational motion into the desired component rotation. This substitution reduces mechanical noise by eliminating the tooth-to-tooth engagement noise characteristic of traditional gear trains, while still achieving reliable component rotation.
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 actuating device reduces weight, size, and cost by minimizing the use of metallic components while effectively rotating components between unfolded and folded positions, protecting the motor drive from impacts and allowing for smooth operation.
Implementation Method 1
The clutch ring includes a plurality of cam surfaces, a plurality of engagement grooves and a plurality of detent recesses. Each cam follower is configured to travel on a corresponding cam surface from the plurality of cam surfaces. In response to power output in the first rotational direction, the drive gear rotates with respect to the shaft such that each cam follower travels on the corresponding cam surface causing the motor drive and the housing to move away from the clutch ring along the longitudinal axis.
Implementation Method 2
Each detent recess is configured to releasably engage with a corresponding detent tooth from the plurality of detent teeth in order to rotationally lock the clutch ring relative to the shaft.
Implementation Method 3
Each tab of the housing is configured to be at least partially and removably received within a corresponding engagement groove from the plurality of engagement grooves in order to rotationally lock the housing relative to the clutch ring.
Data Source
AI summary
An actuating device for a component includes a shaft, a housing, a clutch ring, a drive gear, and a motor drive engaged with the housing and drivably coupled to the drive gear. The shaft includes a plurality of detent teeth. The housing is movably disposed around the shaft and is coupled to the component. The housing includes a plurality of tabs. The clutch ring is movably disposed around the shaft, and includes a plurality of cam surfaces, a plurality of engagement grooves and a plurality of detent recesses. Each tab of the housing is configured to be at least partially and removably received within a corresponding engagement groove. Each detent recess is configured to releasably engage with a corresponding detent tooth. The drive gear is movably disposed around the shaft and includes a plurality of cam followers. Each cam follower is configured to travel on a corresponding cam surface.