Actuator Stop with Variable Radius Cutout for Rod Diameter Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural machinery actuators often experience unreliable mechanical stops due to mismatched rod diameters, leading to potential disengagement and damage during operation, as existing stop systems are not adaptable to different rod sizes.
Innovation Solution
The mechanical stop features a cutout with a succession of surfaces of different circular sections, with one radius corresponding to half the diameter of the actuator rod, ensuring reliable assembly and contact across various rod diameters, reducing the risk of disengagement by providing multiple surface contacts around the rod.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical stop with a cutout is used to limit actuator stroke, then the stop can be adjusted to different positions, but the stop becomes unreliable when the rod diameter does not exactly match the cutout diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The cutout is designed with a succession of surfaces having different radii instead of a single fixed radius. This allows the cutout to adapt to different rod diameters by contacting the rod at different radial positions, maintaining reliable engagement while preserving adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutout surface is segmented into multiple surfaces with different radii. Each surface can engage with the rod at a different radial position, providing multiple contact points that ensure reliable stopping regardless of the exact rod diameter.
2Reliability
If the cutout radius is made to exactly match the rod radius for reliable contact, then the same stop cannot be used with actuators having different rod diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The cutout is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating surfaces with different radii. A single cutout can engage with rods of different diameters, making the stop universal and compatible with various actuator types without requiring multiple specialized stops.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutout geometry includes multiple surfaces with varying radii, allowing it to adapt to different rod diameter parameters. This enables the same stop design to work reliably across a range of rod sizes by selecting the appropriate contact surface.
3Device complexity
If only line contact between the cutout and rod is provided, then the assembly is simple, but the risk of disengagement during machine operation is high
Solution Approach 1:
The contact between the cutout and rod is transitioned from one-dimensional line contact to two-dimensional surface contact. The succession of surfaces with different radii creates extended contact areas, increasing the contact dimension and significantly reducing the risk of disengagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutout surfaces are designed with different radii to create surface contact rather than line contact. This geometric parameter change increases the contact area between the stop and rod, providing more reliable engagement while maintaining design simplicity.
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 solution allows for a single stop to be compatible with multiple rod diameters, ensuring stable and reliable positioning of actuators, reducing the risk of disengagement and maintaining precise control over tool depth and adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
two movable parts connected by an elastic member
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a stop (1) for an actuator (5) comprising two movable parts (2, 3) connected by an elastic element (4) adapted to be mounted on a rod (10) to limit the stroke of the actuator (5), each movable part (2, 3) having a cutout (6) shaped to the form of the rod (10). The stop is remarkable in that the cutout (6) of one of the movable parts (2, 3) has a succession of surfaces (15) with circular cross-sections of different radii (R1, Rn), and the radius of one of the surfaces (15) corresponds to half the diameter of the rod (10) of the actuator (5). The present invention also relates to an actuator comprising at least one stop limiting its stroke and to an agricultural machine equipped with one or more actuators having at least one such stop.