Arcuate Slide Out Drive Assembly with Offset Teeth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide out drive assemblies in expandable enclosures for recreational vehicles and trailers are heavy, complex, and time-consuming to install, which is undesirable for transportation applications where weight and complexity need to be minimized.
Innovation Solution
A drive assembly featuring a beam with offset rows of teeth, a beam guide, an arcuate support rail, and a drive gear system that allows for the angular orientation change of the slide out, enabling efficient extension and retraction with reduced labor and weight, using a gear wheel engagement mechanism and an actuator for operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional slide out drive assemblies are used, then the slide out can be extended and retracted, but the weight and complexity of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive assembly is segmented into modular components: a beam with integrated teeth, a separate guide rail, and a pinion gear. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function independently, reducing overall complexity while maintaining operational capability. The beam with offset tooth rows is a key segmented element that simplifies the drive mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the slide out, incorporates the drive teeth for movement, and guides the pinion gear through its geometry. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing complexity and weight while maintaining the slide out extension and retraction capability.
2Ease of operation
If traditional slide out drive assemblies are used, then the slide out can be extended and retracted, but the installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam is pre-configured with the offset tooth rows and integrated guide features during manufacturing. This preliminary action means that during installation, the beam requires minimal assembly steps - it can be directly mounted to the slide out without requiring complex field assembly of the drive teeth and guide elements, significantly reducing installation time.
3Ease of operation
If traditional slide out drive assemblies are used, then the slide out can be extended and retracted, but the weight of the enclosure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide function is extracted from the beam structure and implemented as a separate, lightweight guide rail that can be optimized for minimal weight while providing necessary guidance. This extraction allows the beam to be lighter since it doesn't need to incorporate heavy guide structures, and the guide rail can be designed as a simple profiled element rather than a complex assembly.
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 reduces the weight and complexity of the slide out drive assembly, facilitating easier installation and operation while maintaining stability and space reconfiguration capabilities, thus addressing the challenges of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a drive gear having a first gear wheel engageable with the first row of teeth and a second gear wheel engageable with the second row of teeth
Implementation Method 2
the present disclosure relates to a drive assembly having a rack and pinion drive used to extend or retract the slide out
Data Source
AI summary
A drive assembly utilized in combination with slide out includes a beam attached to a beam guide in an arcuate support rail that is attached to the slide out. The beam may have a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth thereon, where the first row of teeth and the second row of teeth extend parallel to each other on opposite sides of the beam. In addition, the teeth in the first row of teeth are offset relative to the teeth in the second row of teeth. The drive assembly further includes a drive gear having a first gear wheel that engages the first row of teeth and a second gear wheel that engages the second row of teeth, as well as an actuator coupled to the beam to selectively extend and retract the beam. The beam may deflect with respect to the arcuate support rail based on its location and the location of the beam guide to aid in leveling of the slide out.