Adjustable Toggle Lever Mechanism for Consistent Clamping Force
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Load carriers with clamp mechanisms struggle to consistently achieve a desired clamping force due to variations in coupling device dimensions and potential deformation over time, limiting their secure mounting capability.
Innovation Solution
A load carrier with an operating mechanism that includes a pivotably supported lever with a force application joint and a force transmitting element, allowing for adjustable tensioning to ensure a consistent clamping force is applied to the coupling device, utilizing a toggle lever mechanism to amplify input force and a self-locking function for secure mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the clamp mechanism is designed for a specific dimension of the coupling device, then the clamping force is optimized for that dimension, but the load carrier cannot adapt to coupling devices with different dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The load carrier incorporates an adjustable clamping force mechanism that allows dynamic adaptation to different coupling device dimensions. The clamping force can be modified according to the actual dimensions encountered, transforming a static design into a dynamic one that responds to varying conditions while maintaining optimal performance across different sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables changing the clamping force parameter to match different coupling device dimensions. By allowing adjustment of the clamping force parameter, the system can optimize its performance for each specific dimension encountered, rather than being fixed for a single dimension.
2Reliability
If the clamp mechanism operates without adjustment capability, then the structure is simple, but the desired clamping force cannot be achieved after long term use due to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The load carrier incorporates an adjustable clamping force mechanism that allows dynamic adaptation to different coupling device dimensions. The clamping force can be modified according to the actual dimensions encountered, transforming a static design into a dynamic one that responds to varying conditions while maintaining optimal performance across different sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable mechanism allows preliminary adjustment of the clamping force before operation begins. This preliminary action compensates for any deformation that may have occurred during long-term use, ensuring the desired clamping force is achieved from the start of each usage cycle.
3Force
If the operating mechanism requires high input force to generate high clamping force, then the clamping force is sufficient, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The load carrier incorporates an adjustable clamping force mechanism that allows dynamic adaptation to different coupling device dimensions. The clamping force can be modified according to the actual dimensions encountered, transforming a static design into a dynamic one that responds to varying conditions while maintaining optimal performance across different sizes.
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 mechanism ensures a reliable and adjustable clamping force can be consistently applied to the coupling device, enhancing the secure mounting of load carriers on vehicles with varying coupling device dimensions and maintaining effectiveness over time.
Implementation Method 1
The lever (7) is pivotably supported on the support (9)... utilizing a toggle lever mechanism to amplify input force... allows the user to generate high clamping forces by operating the same
Implementation Method 2
a force transmitting element (10) connected to the force application joint (73) and to the operated member (8) of the clamp mechanism (1)... for transferring force from the lever onto another element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Disclosed is a load carrier (L) with an operating mechanism (6) for operating a clamp mechanism (1). The operating mechanism comprises a lever (7) pivotably supported on a support (9) about a pivot (P), a force application joint (73) connected to the lever, a force transmitting element (10) pivotably connected to the force application joint and pivotably connectable to an operated member of the clamp mechanism at a force application section (F) for applying a force on the operated member. A pivotal distance (d1) between the force application joint and the pivot is smaller than a pivotal distance (d2) between the force application joint and the force application section. In a tensioning position of the lever, the force application joint is positioned at a presettable distance (D) from the support. The operating mechanism further comprises an adjustment means for presetting the presettable distance between the force application joint and the support in order to adapt the tensioning force on the operated member.