Linear Drive Safety Lock With Rolling Elements for Power Failure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety devices for linear drives lack a reliable, purely mechanical solution for detaching the output member and transferring it to a predefined safety state without relying on electrical or non-electrical auxiliary energy, especially in cases of power failure.
Innovation Solution
A safety device comprising a coupling rod, a housing, a blocking unit, a spring device, and an electromagnet device that cooperates with locking rolling elements to mechanically lock and unlock the output member, ensuring it can be safely transferred to a predefined safety state by reversing the holding function in the event of a power failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electromagnet is used to hold the support sleeve in the support position, then the output member can be locked in the release position during normal operation, but in the event of a power failure, the holding function is reversed and the blocking unit moves to the blocking position
Solution Approach 1:
The spring device is pre-loaded to exert a blocking force on the blocking unit. The electromagnet is designed to counteract this pre-loaded spring force during normal operation. When power fails, the electromagnet releases, and the pre-loaded spring automatically pushes the blocking unit to the blocking position, ensuring fail-safe operation without requiring additional energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces a purely mechanical locking system with an electromechanical system where the electromagnet holds the support sleeve against the force of pre-loaded springs. This substitution allows the system to use electrical energy only when needed (during normal operation) while relying on mechanical spring force for the safety function during power failure.
2Reliability
If locking rolling elements are used to lock the blocking unit in the release position, then the output member can move freely during normal operation, but the blocking unit must be securely locked to prevent unintended blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The support sleeve acts as an intermediary component that transmits the holding force from the electromagnet to the locking rolling elements. The rolling elements themselves serve as intermediaries between the support sleeve and the blocking unit, enabling secure locking through a simple geometric engagement rather than complex mechanical interlocks.
3Reliability
If the support sleeve is moved into the release position by spring force during power failure, then the blocking unit is automatically transferred to the blocking position, but the movement must be reliable without electrical auxiliary energy
Solution Approach 1:
The spring device is pre-loaded during normal operation and stores mechanical energy. When power fails and the electromagnet releases, the spring automatically exerts its stored force to move the support sleeve and trigger the blocking unit without requiring any external energy source, control system, or manual intervention. The system serves itself by converting the pre-stored mechanical energy into the fail-safe action.
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 provides a reliable, mechanical safety mechanism that ensures the output member of a linear drive can be safely locked and unlocked without the need for electrical or non-electrical auxiliary energy, guaranteeing operation even in power failure scenarios, thus ensuring the system's safety and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnet device which, when energized, holds the support sleeve in the support position in the opposite position of the force of at least one trigger spring of a spring device
Implementation Method 2
a spring device for prestressing the blocking means in the direction of the blocking position
Data Source
AI summary
A safety device for detachably locking the output member of a linear drive has a coupling rod that can be coupled with the output element of the linear drive. A blocking unit is linearly movably penetrated by the coupling rod that is relatively movable with respect to the housing between a locking position blocking the stroke of the coupling rod and a release position enabling the linear movement of the coupling rod. A spring device prestresses the blocking unit in the blocking position and a locking device locks the blocking unit in the release position. The locking device has locking rolling elements in the housing and a support sleeve that is linearly movably penetrated by the coupling rod. When energized, an electromagnet device holds the support sleeve in the support position against the recoil force of at least one trigger spring of a trigger spring device.