Actuator Lock Mechanism for Compact Glove Box Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing glove box actuators require a large input force to rotate the worm and motor rotating shaft due to the use of spiral and coil springs, leading to a bulky design and difficulty in maintaining a reliable lock state.
Innovation Solution
The actuator design includes an urging device directly on the motor rotating shaft, utilizing a first and second gear with a spring to reduce the size and torsional angle, allowing the motor rotating shaft to be rotated with a smaller force and preventing unintended displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spiral spring and coil spring are provided on the worm wheel side to rotate the motor rotating shaft to the initial position, then the actuator can return to initial position, but the urging force required increases and the actuator size increases
Solution Approach 1:
A torsion spring is introduced as an intermediary urging device that directly acts on the motor rotating shaft, rather than using spiral and coil springs on the worm wheel side. This intermediary mechanism reduces the required urging force and actuator size while maintaining the ability to return to the initial position.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying the urging force through the worm wheel (which requires large force due to the worm-gear mechanism), the invention inverts the approach by directly applying the urging force to the motor rotating shaft via the torsion spring, bypassing the mechanical disadvantage of the worm gear.
2Ease of operation
If the worm and worm wheel are used with the worm wheel as input side, then the motor rotating shaft can be rotated, but a large input force is required and the lock state cannot be maintained reliably
Solution Approach 1:
The torsion spring serves as an intermediary that provides continuous urging force to the motor rotating shaft, ensuring reliable lock state maintenance without requiring large input forces through the worm wheel mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by using the worm as the input side rather than the worm wheel, combined with direct urging on the motor rotating shaft. This parameter change allows for smaller input forces while maintaining reliable lock state through the direct action of the torsion spring.
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 results in a simplified, compact actuator structure that reliably maintains the drive member in a predetermined position, enhancing the lock mechanism's stability and reducing the risk of unintentional displacement.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (41) rotating and urging the second gear (39)
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
An actuator has a simplified and compact structure, and can reliably maintain a drive member in a predetermined position. [Solution] An actuator 21 includes an electric motor 26; a power transmission mechanism 28 including a worm 33 provided in a motor rotating shaft 27, and a worm wheel 34 engaging with the worm; a drive member 29 connected to the motor rotating shaft through the power transmission mechanism, and displaced according to a rotation of the motor rotating shaft; control devices 43 and 47 determining a rotational range of the motor rotating shaft between an initial position and a driven position; and a flat spiral spring 41 provided in the motor rotating shaft, and urging the motor rotating shaft to the initial position. In a case wherein electricity is supplied to the electric motor, the motor rotating shaft rotates to the driven position against an urging force of the flat spiral spring, and on the other hand, in a case wherein a supply of electricity stops, the motor rotating shaft is urged by an urging device to rotate to the initial position.