Adjustable Carriage Assembly for Panel Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vertically-hanging, foldable barriers lack an efficient mechanism for adjusting the height of panels relative to an overhead track, limiting flexibility and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable carriage assembly incorporating a body, hinge pin, lock post, retention pin, and torsion spring, which allows the carriage assembly to transition between locked and unlocked states, enabling the hinge pin to rotate and adjust vertically by energizing the torsion spring upon lock post rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed carriage assembly is used to suspend a panel, then the panel height is stable and secure, but the ability to adjust panel height is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage assembly transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic system with movable components. The lock post can rotate between locked and unlocked positions, and the hinge pin can move between engaged and disengaged states, enabling the carriage to adapt between providing stable support and allowing height adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: the body, the movable lock post, the hinge pin, and the torsion spring. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while working together to provide both adjustability and stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a complex locking mechanism is added to enable height adjustment, then panel height adjustability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The torsion spring provides automatic engagement of the lock post with the flat portion of the hinge pin. When the lock post is rotated to the locked position, the torsion spring automatically maintains the engagement without requiring additional actuators or complex control mechanisms, simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The flat portion on the hinge pin serves as an intermediary feature that simplifies the locking mechanism. Instead of requiring a complex latch or cam system, the rotation of the lock post simply engages or disengages this flat portion, providing adjustability through a simple rotational motion.
3Ease of operation
If the hinge pin is freely rotatable for easy adjustment, then ease of operation is improved, but secure locking capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge pin features an asymmetric flat portion that only engages with the lock post in one rotational orientation. This asymmetric geometry ensures that when the lock post is rotated to the locked position, the flat portion of the hinge pin aligns precisely with the lock post, providing secure locking while maintaining ease of adjustment through simple rotation.
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
Enables secure locking and effortless vertical adjustment of the panel height, enhancing the operational flexibility and usability of vertically-hanging foldable barriers.
Implementation Method 1
The torsion spring can have a fixed end and a free end. The fixed end can engage the inner surface of the second bore. The free end can engage the first extension portion of the lock post. Rotation of the lock post energizes the torsion spring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An adjustable carriage assembly includes a body; a hinge pin disposed in a threaded first bore of the body, the hinge pin having a threaded end and a first longitudinal axis; a lock post disposed in a second bore of the body, the lock post having a second longitudinal axis; a torsion spring disposed around the lock post; and a retention pin disposed in a third bore of the body to retain the lock post in the second bore. A first extension portion of the lock post engages a flat portion of the hinge pin in a locked state. The lock post is operable to rotate about the second longitudinal axis to disengage the first extension portion from the flat portion and place the carrier assembly in an unlocked state so that the hinge pin is free to rotate and move longitudinally within the first bore.