Gas Spring Trigger Housing for Low-Force Release Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas spring devices require significant forces to trigger and lack precise control over release speed due to their design, making them difficult to regulate and adapt to various geometric spaces.

Innovation Solution

A device with a housing that allows for two connection options for the actuating device, enabling parallel or transverse alignment within the housing, featuring a lever mechanism entirely within the housing for reliable and space-efficient operation, and a gas spring connection unit for secure attachment, facilitating low-force release and adjustable actuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a simple lever actuating element is used to press directly on the trigger, then the device structure is simple, but considerable forces are required to trigger the gas spring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuating element structureVSAvoidtrigger force
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

A cable is introduced as an intermediary element between the actuating lever and the trigger. The cable transmits the actuating force from the lever to the trigger, allowing for flexible force transmission and reducing the direct mechanical coupling requirements. This enables the actuating element to operate with lower forces while maintaining effective trigger activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The direct mechanical contact between the actuating lever and trigger is replaced with a cable-based transmission system. This substitution allows for more efficient force transmission, reduces the structural complexity of the actuating element, and enables the system to operate with lower trigger forces while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the actuating device is guided parallel to the gas spring longitudinal direction, then the connection is straightforward, but the device requires more space and has limited adaptability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeometric space adaptationVSAvoidhousing space
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is designed with universal connection features that accommodate both parallel and transverse guidance directions of the actuating device. This multi-functional design allows the same housing structure to adapt to different geometric space conditions and installation requirements, significantly enhancing the device's versatility without requiring multiple specialized housing designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing design incorporates dynamic adaptability through configurable connection points and mounting options that allow the actuating device to be guided in different directions (parallel or transverse to the gas spring longitudinal axis) depending on the available space and application requirements. This dynamic configuration capability enables optimal space utilization in various installation scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If release forces are increased to ensure reliable triggering, then the triggering reliability improves, but the release becomes difficult to dose and gas spring speed cannot be regulated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetriggering reliabilityVSAvoidrelease dosing control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cable-based transmission system provides inherent feedback mechanisms that allow the operator to sense and control the release force applied to the trigger. The cable's flexibility and tension characteristics enable progressive force application, allowing the operator to dose the release force precisely while maintaining reliable triggering. This feedback loop enables controlled speed regulation of the gas spring during release.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Enables reliable, space-saving, and adaptable gas spring release with low release forces, allowing for precise control and easy assembly, suitable for diverse applications without protruding components or complex spatial requirements.

Implementation Method 1

an actuating element (4) that is operatively connected to the actuating device (2) and acts on a trigger (3) at the end of the gas spring (1)... with an actuating lever (9) which is in operative connection with the actuating device (2), and at least one release lever (6) which interacts directly or indirectly with the actuating lever (9) and which acts on the trigger (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever mechanism: Lever

Data Source

PatentEP3057469B1Gas spring with a device for triggering the gas spring
Publication Date: 2018.04.25 WANDSCHNEIDER GUIDO
  • EP3057469B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3057469B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3057469B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (100) for triggering a gas spring (1), comprising an actuating device (2) and an actuating element (4) which is operatively connected to the actuating device (2) and acts on an end-side trigger (3) of the gas spring (1). The actuating element (4) acts directly or indirectly on the trigger (3) and is designed in particular as a lever arrangement (5) which reduces or multiplies the force and/or distance and which comprises an actuating lever, said lever arrangement being operatively connected to the actuating device (2). The device also comprises at least one trigger lever, which interacts directly or indirectly with the actuating lever and which acts on the trigger (3), and a housing (20). The invention is characterized in that a first housing connecting unit (22) is provided on the housing (20) for connecting a connecting unit of the actuating device (2), said connectable or connected actuating device (2) being guided substantially parallel (P) to the longitudinal direction of the gas spring (1) within the housing (20), and a second housing connecting unit (24) is provided on the housing (20) for connecting a connecting unit of the actuating device (2), said connectable or connected actuating device (2) being guided substantially transverse (Q) to the longitudinal direction of the gas spring (1) within the housing (20).