Articulating Roller Assembly for Automotive Lift Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automotive lift systems face issues with unequal force distribution and potential rotation of yoke assemblies due to manufacturing tolerances and imperfect installation, leading to premature failure of roller assemblies and the need for overdesigning.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of rotatable axle assemblies within the yoke assemblies that can self-adjust to maintain proper contact between rollers and post surfaces, ensuring a more even distribution of force and reducing the risk of premature failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fixed axle assemblies are used in yoke assemblies, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but unequal force distribution and yoke rotation occur due to manufacturing tolerances and installation imperfections
Solution Approach 1:
The axle assembly is made rotatable about the roller axis, transforming a static fixed-axle structure into a dynamic adjustable one. This allows the axle to self-adjust its orientation in response to unequal forces caused by manufacturing tolerances or installation imperfections, maintaining proper roller contact with the rail and distributing forces more evenly across the roller assembly.
2Reliability
If yoke assemblies are designed to accommodate force variations, then reliability improves, but the yoke assembly may rotate due to unequal force distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable axle assembly provides a dynamic adjustment mechanism that allows the yoke assembly to maintain its proper orientation despite unequal force distributions. The axle can rotate to realign the rollers with the rail surface, preventing unwanted rotation of the entire yoke assembly and maintaining system stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The axle assembly automatically adjusts its own orientation in response to force imbalances without external intervention. This self-adjusting capability allows the system to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and installation variations, maintaining reliable operation and preventing yoke rotation.
3Reliability
If roller assemblies are overdesigned to handle unequal forces, then reliability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of overdesigning the rollers to handle extreme unequal forces, the patent uses a dynamic rotatable axle that actively maintains even force distribution. This approach achieves high reliability through motion and adaptation rather than through excessive structural design, avoiding increased complexity and cost.
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive lift system includes a plurality of posts and yoke assemblies. The yoke assemblies are slidably coupled to the posts such that the yoke assemblies are vertically moveable between a lowered position and a raised position. A pair of runways are secured between a respective pair of yoke assemblies and are configured to engage an automobile to thereby communicate vertical movement of the yoke assemblies to the automobile. The yoke assemblies include a structural frame and a pair of contact assemblies configured to engage opposing surfaces of the posts. The contact assemblies include an axle assembly having a pair of contact members (e.g., rollers, sliders, etc.) that are configured to engage an interior or exterior surface of the post. The axle assemblies are rotatable and/or articulable about a vertical axis parallel with the posts to thereby maintain proper engagement between the posts and the pairs of contact members.