Actuator Wear Compensation via Viscoelastic Coupling Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clutch actuator systems face challenges in reliably compensating for wear and tear, particularly due to issues with mechanical friction and unreliable hydraulic adjustments, which affect the robustness and performance of the actuator.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a linear actuator with a coupling element that varies its length over a time constant significantly longer than the actuation period, using a preloading element and a biasing mechanism to adjust for wear and tear during idle periods, ensuring minimal length change during normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical adjustor with increased friction is used to compensate for wear, then the actuator can maintain its position, but the robustness of the device decreases due to undefined friction and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical adjustor with undefined friction characteristics with a hydraulic adjustment system. The hydraulic system uses fluid pressure to adjust the actuator position, providing well-defined and controllable adjustment forces without relying on friction. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining position stability through a more reliable and less complex hydraulic mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a hydraulic adjustment assembly with two chambers connected by a channel and valve. Fluid passing between chambers modifies the actuator length to compensate for wear. This hydraulic approach provides precise, controllable adjustment without the undefined friction and deformation issues of mechanical adjustors, thereby improving reliability while managing device complexity.
2Reliability
If a hydraulic adjustment assembly with valve is used to compensate for wear, then the actuator can maintain its position, but the reliability decreases due to valve operation issues affected by friction and pressure differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the valve element from the hydraulic adjustment system to eliminate the source of operational problems. By removing the valve that causes friction and pressure-related reliability issues, the system achieves wear compensation through direct hydraulic adjustment without the intermediate valve mechanism, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a channel connecting two hydraulic chambers as an intermediary mechanism. Instead of using a valve to control fluid flow, the channel provides a direct, friction-free passage for fluid between chambers. This intermediary structure eliminates the valve operation problems while maintaining the hydraulic adjustment functionality, resolving the contradiction between position stability and operational reliability.
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 maintains consistent actuator performance by compensating for wear and tear without disrupting normal operation, enhancing robustness and reliability by controlling the length change of the coupling element within defined limits.
Implementation Method 1
The coupling member (130) is configured to vary its length L with a time constant, wherein the time constant is multiple times longer than the time period during which the linear actuator (110) performs the actuation
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for adjusting an actuator to compensate for wear and tear modifications comprises a linear actuator 110 configured to perform, during normal operation, a linear actuation lasting for a time period. The apparatus further comprises a preloading element 120 for providing a preloading force. The apparatus further comprises a coupling element 130 arranged to couple the linear actuator 110 with the preloading element 120 such that the linear actuation of said linear actuator 110 deforms linearly the preloading element 120. The coupling element 130 is configured to vary its length L with a time constant, which is multiple times longer than the time period while the linear actuator 110 performs the actuation during normal operation.