Adjustable Wedge Drive for Safe Working-to-Assembly Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wedge drives require complex, time-consuming, and expensive measures to transition between working and assembly positions, posing safety risks and necessitating additional components for safe operation.

Innovation Solution

A wedge drive design featuring a position-changing device with a first and second stop, allowing the device to function as a limiter in the working position and a bearing in the assembly position, enabling safe transition without additional components by using a single fastening mechanism for both positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional measures are used to achieve assembly position, then safety conditions are met, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidcomplexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The position-changing device serves multiple functions: it acts as a limiter in the working position and as a bearing support for the second stop in the assembly position. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each position, reducing device complexity while maintaining safety requirements for both operational states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the limiter function and bearing support function into a single position-changing device. By merging these functions into one component rather than using separate components, the overall device complexity is reduced while still achieving the necessary safety conditions for both working and assembly positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Manufacturing precision

If complex measures are used to transition between positions, then position accuracy is achieved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The position-changing device is designed to be movable and adjustable, allowing dynamic transition between working and assembly positions. This dynamic design enables quick repositioning without complex adjustment mechanisms, achieving accurate positioning while minimizing the time required for transitions between operational states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If additional components are added to fix position, then position stability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition stabilityVSAvoidcomplexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The position-changing device performs dual functions as both a limiter and a bearing support, eliminating the need for additional separate components to fix positions. This multi-functional design achieves position stability for both working and assembly states without increasing device complexity through additional parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4070941B1Wedge drive with adjustable working and mounting position
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 FIBRO GMBH
  • EP4070941B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4070941B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4070941B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a wedge drive (1) with a sliding upper part (4), a sliding lower part (2), and a slide (3) arranged between the sliding upper part (4) and the sliding lower part (2), which in a working position is movable back and forth between a closed and an open position via sliding surfaces, wherein the slide (3) is equipped with a position-adjustable device (10) for establishing either the working position or an assembly position, wherein a first stop (30) and a separate second stop (40) are provided on the slide (3) for this purpose, wherein in the working position of the wedge drive (1), the device (10) is positioned relative to the slide (3) such that it serves as a limiter for the first stop (30) when the wedge drive (1) is actuated into its intended fully open position, and wherein in the assembly position, the device (10) is positioned such thatthat the second attack (40) is supported by the device (10).