Actuating Device Linkage Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuating devices in the vehicle body construction industry with manual operating means face issues such as high wear of moving parts, large size due to wide angular displacement of the manual operating handle, and potential interference with other plant parts, as well as safety concerns from the proximity of the handle to the clamping arm.
Innovation Solution
An actuating device with a housing and a manually operated linkage system where the lever arm is slidably coupled to a driver member constrained within a blind seat, allowing for reduced angular displacement and effective force transfer, while minimizing wear through a movable connection and guided sliding mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the manual operating handle is positioned near the clamping arm to achieve compact design, then the device size is reduced, but safety is compromised due to proximity of user's hand to the clamping arm during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the manual operating handle in a different spatial dimension relative to the clamping arm, specifically positioning it away from the clamping arm's path of motion. This dimensional separation allows the handle to be operated safely without the user's hand being in the danger zone of the clamping arm, while maintaining overall device compactness through optimized spatial arrangement.
2Ease of operation
If the manual operating handle covers a wide angular distance to displace the actuating element between end-positions, then the actuating element can be effectively moved, but the overall device size increases and may interfere with other plant parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic linkage mechanism where the lever arm is not rigidly fixed but is instead slidably coupled to the driver member through a movable connection within a blind seat. This dynamic arrangement allows the linkage to adapt its configuration during operation, enabling effective displacement of the actuating element through a reduced angular distance of the manual handle, thereby reducing the overall device footprint and preventing interference with surrounding plant parts.
3Force
If the driver member is fixedly connected to the lever arm to ensure reliable force transfer, then force transfer is effective, but high wear occurs on the moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fixed rigid connection between the driver member and lever arm with a dynamic slidable connection. The driver member moves within a blind seat of the actuating element, creating a movable connection that maintains effective force transfer while reducing wear through controlled motion and better load distribution. This dynamic linkage allows the system to maintain reliability while significantly reducing wear on moving parts.
4Ease of operation
If the double articulated lever mechanism is used to transform handle rotation into translation, then the actuating element can be moved between end positions, but the handle rotation area becomes wider than the clamping arm opening angle range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the traditional double articulated lever mechanism by introducing a slidable coupling between the driver member and lever arm. This dynamic modification allows the mechanism to achieve the required translation of the actuating element through a more compact angular rotation of the manual handle, reducing the handle rotation area to be within or comparable to the clamping arm opening angle range, thereby optimizing the device's spatial requirements.
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 solution reduces wear and size, ensuring effective force transfer and achieving irreversible engagement with a compact design, minimizing interference and enhancing safety by reducing the angular distance covered by the manual lever.
Implementation Method 1
the driver member is free to translate within a linear guide obtained in the fork linkage connected to the piston rod. The displacement of the driver member within the linear guide induces a translation of the piston rod and fork linkage along a direction perpendicular to the linear guide.
Data Source
AI summary
An actuating device comprising a housing inside of which an actuating element is provided, the actuating element being slidably displaceable along a first axis between a first operative position and a second non-operative position, the displacement between the first operative position and the second non-operative position defining the stroke of the actuating element; a manual operating element pivotably connected to the housing at a first pivoting axis and coupled to the actuating element through a linkage, so that the linkage produces a translation of the actuating element, upon rotation of the manual operating element; the linkage comprising at least one lever arm coupled to a respective driver member, wherein the driver member is guided and constrained into a respective blind seat provided on the actuating element, characterized in that the lever arm is slidably coupled to the driver member and the driver member is movably constrained into the blind seat.