Adjustable-Thickness Wedge Shim for Vertical and Horizontal Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable shims are limited in their ability to adjust both vertical and horizontal thicknesses, often requiring one plate to rest on a flat surface, and they can only be used for vertical thickness adjustment, making them impractical for certain applications.
Innovation Solution
A wedge-shaped shim with a housing, sliding element, and movable element, actuated by an actuator device, allows for adjustable thickness in both vertical and horizontal directions through a retaining mechanism that maintains element alignment during adjustments, using a locking mechanism to prevent relative movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If one horizontal plate rests on a flat surface, then vertical thickness adjustment is achieved, but the device cannot be used for horizontal thickness adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge is designed with a housing containing both a sliding element and a movable element that can function in multiple orientations. The device can adjust thickness vertically when the movable element moves away from the bottom wall, and horizontally when the movable element moves away from the front wall, making it universally applicable for different adjustment needs
2Adaptability or versatility
If the movable element moves freely during actuation, then thickness adjustment is enabled, but elements may come apart before actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining mechanism proactively prevents the sliding element and movable element from moving apart before actuation by providing preliminary constraint. During actuation, the retaining mechanism selectively releases to allow the necessary movement for thickness adjustment while maintaining overall structural integrity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3b
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a shim (100) having a thickness that can be adjusted by means of an actuator device. Actuating the actuator device causes a movement of a sliding element (20) inside a housing (10) in a first direction (101). The movement of the sliding element (20) causes a movement of a movable element (30) in a second direction (102), thus increasing the distance between an outer wall (34, 84, 94) of the movable element (34) and a bottom wall (13) of the housing (10), and thus increasing the thickness of the shim (100).