Awning Arm Console Inclination Adjustment Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing arrangements for adjusting the inclination of articulated arm awnings are often complex and costly, lacking cost-effective and easy adjustment solutions.

Innovation Solution

An arm console is pivotably mounted on a swivel joint with an actuator, such as an adjusting screw, to facilitate stable and reproducible inclination adjustments, with options including pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders for stepless adjustment, and a housing providing stable guidance for the arm console.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If complex arrangements are used for adjusting the inclination of articulated arm awnings, then adjustment functionality is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment functionalityVSAvoidarrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the arm console for inclination adjustment, the swivel joint for positioning, and the actuator for actuation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall design while maintaining full adjustment functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential adjustment function from complex existing arrangements and implements it through a minimal set of components. By taking out only the necessary elements (arm console, swivel joint, actuator) and eliminating unnecessary complexity, the design achieves adjustment functionality with significantly reduced device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Device complexity

If simple adjustment mechanisms are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adjustment stability and precision deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearrangement simplicityVSAvoidsetting stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The actuator applies a counteracting force to balance the weight of the articulated arm section, enabling stable inclination adjustments. The actuator can be designed as an adjusting screw that provides mechanical advantage, or as a pneumatic/hydraulic cylinder that uses fluid pressure to counterbalance the arm's weight, ensuring reproducible settings while maintaining design simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The arm console is designed to engage in the pivot bearing with form-fitting engagement in the horizontal direction while providing adjustment play only in the vertical direction. This dimensional differentiation ensures stable guidance and reproducible settings by constraining movement in the critical horizontal plane while allowing necessary vertical adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Stability of the object's composition

If form-fitting engagement is provided in horizontal direction with play in vertical direction, then guidance stability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance stabilityVSAvoidform-fitting precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot bearing and arm console engagement features are designed with local quality differentiation: the horizontal engagement surfaces are precision-formed to provide form-fitting engagement for stable guidance, while the vertical direction intentionally includes play to allow adjustment. This localized precision approach maintains overall manufacturing feasibility while achieving the required guidance stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This solution enables simple, stable, and reproducible inclination adjustments, allowing for cost-effective production and user-adaptable settings, while maintaining structural stability and ease of use.

Implementation Method 1

an actuator acting vertically on the arm console against the effect of gravity, pivoting it and adjusting its inclination

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

The actuator can be designed as an adjusting screw. This solution is particularly simple. Nevertheless, very stable, reproducible settings can be achieved.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP1760221B1Arrangement for adjusting the inclination of the arms of an awning with articulated arms
Publication Date: 2012.03.07 SCHMITZ-WERKE GMBH CO KG
  • EP1760221B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1760221B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

The arrangement has a fixedly mountable inner console (2), an inner joint arm section (4) and a rotatable joint arrangement (3) for deviating the arm section. An arm console (6) is connected with the joint arrangement and pivotably supported at the inner console. A final control component acts vertically upon the arm console against the gravitational force in an inclined position, where the component is formed as an adjusting screw.