Tire Carrier Disk Clutch Retaining Clip Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional disk clutches for tire carriers are prone to failure due to overloading, as users cannot determine when the spare tire is properly raised, leading to excessive torque on the cable, and the retaining clips sporadically fall off, causing the clutch to malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A torque-limiting disk clutch design featuring a drive shaft with a groove, a spring member, a cam plate, and a retaining clip that engages the plate to prevent the clip from releasing, ensuring the clutch does not over-torque and maintains secure retention, utilizing a radial-facing abutment to prevent clip release and axial-facing abutments for secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a retaining clip is used to secure the plate on the drive shaft, then the clutch can be assembled with simple components, but the retaining clip may sporadically fall off causing clutch failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a radial-facing abutment on the drive shaft that prevents the retaining clip from falling off before actual failure occurs. The abutment creates a physical barrier that stops the clip's radial movement outward, preventing clip loss while maintaining the simple assembly structure. This anticipatory protective feature resolves the contradiction between assembly simplicity and retention reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the user continues to exert torque on the lift drum to ensure the tire is properly raised, then the tire positioning can be confirmed, but excessive tension on the cable may cause it to break
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback through the torque-limiting clutch mechanism that automatically slips when a predetermined torque threshold is reached. This provides mechanical feedback to the user that the tire is properly positioned, eliminating the need to continue applying torque. The clutch's torque-sensing and slipping action prevents excessive cable tension while confirming proper tire placement, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and cable strength.
3Volume of moving object
If a disk-type clutch is used to reduce package size, then the tire carrier occupies less space, but the retaining clips may still fall off causing failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the compact disk-type clutch design while adding beforehand cushioning through the radial-facing abutment. The abutment is integrated into the drive shaft structure, preventing retaining clip loss without adding significant volume. This resolves the contradiction between minimizing package size and ensuring retention reliability by providing protective functionality within the existing compact footprint.
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 effectively prevents over-torquing and maintains the retaining clip's secure engagement, reducing tire carrier failures and ensuring reliable operation by limiting torque and preventing clip release, thus enhancing the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the disk clutch assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member secured to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft about the central rotational axis
Implementation Method 2
Disk-type clutches have been found to be very advantageous
Data Source
AI summary
A torque limiting clutch includes a drive shaft having central rotational axis and a groove, a spring member secured to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft about the central rotational axis, a plate adjacent the spring member and rotatable about the drive shaft, and a retaining clip located within the groove of the drive shaft and engaging the plate to retain the plate on the drive shaft. The plate has a pocket forming an axial-facing first abutment engaging the retaining clip and a radial-facing second abutment located outward of the retaining clip to prevent release of the retaining clip from the groove.