Gas Spring Support for Scissor Arm Awning Fabric Tension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current scissor arm awnings face issues with spring tension decreasing at the end of extension movement, leading to inadequate fabric tension and increased risk of spring failure, along with visual disruption from complex double scissor arms and hydraulic systems.
Innovation Solution
Replacing spiral springs with gas pressure springs arranged directly on the console for wall mounting, providing consistent force throughout the extension path and maintaining a visually appealing design by positioning the gas springs between the console and tilt or guide arms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If stronger coil springs are used to maintain fabric tension throughout extension, then fabric tension is improved, but the risk of spring breakage and injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical coil springs with a gas spring (pneumatic element) to provide extension force. The gas spring maintains relatively constant force throughout the extension movement, ensuring adequate fabric tension without requiring excessive pre-tensioning that would increase breakage risk. The gas spring is arranged between the console and the tilting arm or guide arm, providing reliable and safe operation.
2Ease of operation
If coil springs are arranged centrally on the scissor arm, then extension assistance is provided, but the visual appearance is disrupted and spring breakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas spring provides the necessary extension assistance pneumatically while being positioned in a location that does not interfere with the visual appearance of the awning. By mounting the gas spring between the console and the tilting arm or guide arm rather than centrally on the scissor arm, the design maintains aesthetic appeal while ensuring functional performance.
3Force
If the spring tension is increased to maintain fabric tension at full extension, then fabric tension is improved, but the risk of injury to people beneath the awning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas spring provides sufficient fabric tension throughout the extension range without requiring high pre-tensioning forces. The pneumatic system naturally maintains relatively constant force, ensuring adequate fabric tension at full extension while operating at safe force levels that minimize injury risk to people beneath the awning.
4Reliability
If double scissor arms are used at the coupling point, then the gap between fabric panels is covered, but the complexity and visual appeal are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The complex double scissor arm mechanism at the coupling point is replaced by a simpler solution. The gas spring-assisted single scissor arm system, combined with the spring-loaded roller blind for gap coverage, eliminates the need for dual scissor arms while maintaining functional performance and visual appeal.
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
Ensures sufficient fabric tension without spring failure risks and enhances the visual appearance by maintaining a clean, unobstructed aesthetic, while supporting the scissor arm's extension movement effectively.
Implementation Method 1
Replacing the tension spring, which is designed as a spiral spring, with at least one gas spring... The gas spring has a nearly constant characteristic curve and therefore provides sufficient force throughout the entire extension range of the awning. The gas spring (also simply called a gas spring) is a pneumatic spring that uses pressurized gas to provide the spring force.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a support structure for a scissor-arm awning, in which the spring tension remains constant or minimally diminishes until the end of the extension movement, thus ensuring good fabric tension. The solution is based on the concept of integrating at least one gas spring directly onto the bracket for wall mounting the scissor arm, such that the spring force reduces the distance between the first pivot points at the ends of the guide and extension arms of each scissor arm. A gas spring has a nearly constant characteristic curve and therefore provides sufficient force throughout the entire extension range of the awning.