Actuator Lever Mechanism for Cost-Effective Force Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuators for sliding cam systems are expensive to manufacture and assemble due to the use of delicate and high-precision components such as stop valves, flexible tongues, and additional springs, which complicate the design and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
An actuator design featuring a pivotably supported lever within the magnet housing, operatively connected to both the plunger and thrust pin, allowing for axial movement transmission, which is cost-effective to manufacture and assemble, and includes a solenoid coil, magnetic yoke, pole core, and armature with a plunger, optionally with a permanent magnet and return path element for efficient magnetic flux conduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stop valve and flexible tongue are used for holding and releasing the thrust pin, then the thrust pin can be fixed in holding position with friction-induced self-locking, but the manufacturing cost and assembly cost increase due to delicate and high-precision components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the stop valve and flexible tongue from the actuator design. Instead of using these delicate components for holding and releasing the thrust pin, the patent employs a simplified magnetic holding mechanism where the electromagnet directly retains the thrust pin in the holding position without requiring separate stopping or locking components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive, precision-crafted components (stop valve, flexible tongue) with simpler, more cost-effective elements. The new design uses standard electromagnet components and basic mechanical elements that are cheaper to manufacture and assemble, while still achieving the required functional reliability.
2Reliability
If additional supporting spring, latching device and rocker are used for bistable arrangement, then the thrust pin extension can be controlled until tilting point is reached, but the device complexity increases making it expensive to assemble and manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the additional supporting spring, latching device, and rocker from the actuator design. The bistable functionality is achieved through the interaction between the electromagnet and the thrust pin itself, eliminating the need for separate latching and supporting mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple functions into fewer components. The electromagnet serves both as the actuating force generator and as part of the holding mechanism, while the thrust pin integrates both the driven element and the element that interacts with the sliding cam. This merging reduces the overall component count and simplifies the design.
3Reliability
If multiple high-precision components are used for force transmission, then the axial movement can be transmitted reliably to the thrust pin, but the assembly cost and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the stop valve, flexible tongue, additional supporting spring, latching device, and rocker from the force transmission path. The force is transmitted directly from the electromagnet through simplified mechanical elements to the thrust pin, reducing the number of precision components required.
Solution Approach 2:
The thrust pin itself serves multiple functions: it is both the element being actuated and the element that transmits force to the sliding cam. The electromagnet's magnetic field directly interacts with the thrust pin to provide both the driving force and the holding force, eliminating the need for separate force transmission mechanisms.
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 actuator provides reliable and cost-effective force transmission to the thrust pin, independent of lever position, with adjustable stroke and compact design, reducing manufacturing and assembly expenses while maintaining efficient mechanical movement.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator includes at least one electromagnet, a magnet housing, at least one thrust pin and at least one movable armature having a plunger which is movable in an axial direction. When the at least one electromagnet is energized, an axial movement of the at least one armature is transmittable to the at least one thrust pin via the at least one plunger.
Implementation Method 2
The actuator also includes at least one lever which is supported pivotably to one side in the magnet housing. The at least one lever is operatively connected to the at least one plunger and the at least one thrust pin in such a way that the axial movement of the at least one plunger is transmittable to the at least one thrust pin.
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator (1) including at least one electromagnet (121, 122, 13, 14, 16, 17, 181, 182, 19, a magnet housing (11), at least one thrust pin (24) and at least one movable armature (14) with a respective plunger (16) that is movable in an axial direction is provided. When the at least one electromagnet (10) is energized, an axial movement of the at least one armature (14) can be transmitted via the at least one plunger (16) to the at least one thrust pin (24). At least one lever (30) is provided which is pivotably mounted on one side in the magnet housing (11) and with which at least one plunger (16) and the at least one thrust pin (24) are operatively connected such that the axial movement of the at least one plunger (16) can be transmitted to the at least one thrust pin (24).