Articulated Connection With Internal Gears and Helical Springs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing articulated connections for hand-held devices and small vehicles are complex and difficult for users to adjust and lock, making it challenging to set and maintain desired angles.
Innovation Solution
A simplified articulated connection design featuring a first and second joint part with internal gears, a rotary knob, and helical springs, allowing for easy adjustment and locking of angles between elongated objects, with a low structural effort due to minimal fasteners required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional articulated connections are used, then the connection can lock at predetermined angles, but the design becomes complex and difficult for users to adjust
Solution Approach 1:
The joint connection is divided into two separate joint parts (first joint part and second joint part) that can be independently assembled. Each joint part contains its own internal gear structure, allowing modular assembly and reducing overall design complexity while maintaining the locking function
Solution Approach 2:
The gear is nested within the two half-shells and can be elastically displaced along the axis between the first and second joint parts. The first coil spring and second coil spring are also nested within the joint structure, with the springs providing elastic force to maintain gear engagement
2Reliability
If traditional articulated connections are used, then the connection can maintain predetermined angles, but adjusting the angle becomes difficult for users
Solution Approach 1:
The gear is pre-configured with teeth that engage with the internal gears of both joint parts to establish predetermined angle positions. The coil springs are pre-loaded to provide the necessary elastic force, so that when the user rotates the joint, the gear automatically snaps into the predetermined angular positions without requiring user force for angle maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The gear is designed to be elastically displaceable along the axis, allowing it to dynamically adjust between engaged and disengaged states. This dynamic capability enables the joint to transition smoothly between different locked angular positions while maintaining reliability at each position
3Strength
If multiple fasteners are used to secure joint components, then the structural integrity is improved, but the design effort and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first joint part and second joint part are designed to be connected using only a single fastener, merging multiple connection functions into one unified assembly step. This reduces the number of fasteners required while maintaining sufficient structural integrity for the application
Solution Approach 2:
The single fastener used to connect the two joint parts serves multiple functions: it secures the half-shells together, accommodates the nested gear structure, and allows for the elastic displacement of the gear along the axis. This multi-functional design reduces assembly complexity while maintaining structural strength
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 easy adjustment and locking of angles between elongated objects, reducing user complexity and structural effort while maintaining precise angular control, facilitating use in devices like lawn mowers and strollers.
Implementation Method 1
a first helical spring that is arranged between the first half-shell and the gear and presses the gear against the second internal gear along the axis
Implementation Method 2
a second helical spring; which is arranged between the second half-shell and the rotary knob and counteracts the displacement of the rotary knob along the axis into the recess
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to an articulated connection (10) for connecting at least one elongated object (48) in a rotatable and fixable manner, in particular for a handheld device or small vehicle. The articulated connection (10) comprises a first articulated part (12) with a first inner gear (24), a second articulated part (14) with a second inner gear (26), a gear (28) which is designed to complement the first inner gear (24) and the second inner gear (26) and which is arranged between the two articulated parts, a rotary knob (30) which can be rotated about an axis (44) and which can be pushed along said axis (44), a first helical spring (36) which presses the gear (28) against the second inner gear (26) along the axis (44), a second helical spring (38) which acts against the movement of the rotary knob (30) along the axis (44), and connection means (34, 40, 42) which connect the first inner gear (24), the first helical spring (36), the gear (28), and the second inner gear (26) together along the axis (44). In a locked state, the gear (28) is in engagement with the first inner gear (24) and the second inner gear (26) such that the first articulated part (12) and the second articulated part (14) are rigidly connected together. In an unlocked state, the gear (28) is in engagement with the first inner gear (24) and is decoupled from the second inner gear (26) such that the first articulated part (12) and the second articulated part (14) can be rotated relative to each other.