Actuator Link Mechanism Assembly via Segmented Control Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional actuators for variable compression ratio mechanisms in internal combustion engines face challenges in assembling efficiency and cost due to the integral formation of control shafts and eccentric shafts, leading to housing upsizing and increased production costs.
Innovation Solution
The actuator design features a control link, an arm link, a control shaft, and a housing with a support hole and accommodation room, utilizing a support jig to facilitate separate assembly and press-fitting of the arm link and control shaft, reducing the need for large housing dimensions and improving assembly efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the control shaft and eccentric shaft part are formed integrally as one piece, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the housing size increases and assembly efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control shaft and eccentric shaft part are divided into separate components. The control shaft can be assembled independently into the housing through the support hole, and the eccentric shaft part is separately press-fitted onto the control shaft. This segmentation enables more efficient assembly processes while maintaining structural functionality.
2Productivity
If the control shaft and eccentric shaft part are formed as separate pieces, then the assembly efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases due to difficulty in forming press-fit load receiving portions
Solution Approach 1:
The press-fit load receiving portions are pre-formed on the control shaft and eccentric shaft part during their respective manufacturing processes. This preliminary formation of fitting surfaces eliminates the need for additional complex manufacturing steps when assembling the separate components, thereby controlling manufacturing costs while enabling efficient assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the housing is divided into separate parts to support the control shaft, then the assembly flexibility is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into functional zones with a support hole for control shaft rotation and an accommodation room for the eccentric shaft part. This segmentation provides assembly flexibility while maintaining a unified housing structure, avoiding the need for multiple separate housing parts and the associated complexity.
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
This design enhances assembly efficiency and reduces costs by allowing separate assembly of the control shaft and arm link, preventing housing upsizing and maintaining operational effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a control shaft to which the arm link is fixed by press-fitting
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an actuator for a link mechanism of an internal combustion mechanism, which includes: a control link (12); an arm link (13) pivotably connected to the other end of the control link; a control shaft (11) to which the arm link is fixed by press-fitting; a housing body (28) having a support hole (30) formed to rotatably support therein the control shaft and an accommodation room (28b) formed in a direction intersecting an center axis of the support hole to accommodate therein the connection site between the arm link and the control link. The housing body further has through holes formed therethrough from an outer surface of the housing body to the accommodation room in an axial direction of the control shaft such that insertion support parts (72 to 74) of a support jig (70) can be inserted through and removed from the respective through holes.