Gripper Stepping Mechanism Prevents Vibration-Induced Closing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gripper devices attached to construction machines often unintentionally close due to vibrations and fluctuations, leading to potential damage and safety hazards, and existing solutions require additional cost-intensive damping devices to prevent this.
Innovation Solution
A stepping mechanism arrangement with a pawl and a stop element, where the stop element's inclined locking surface prevents the pawl from moving into a release position, eliminating the need for separate damping devices and enhancing self-locking effects to maintain the gripper in an open position during vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a damping device with torsion spring is used to prevent unintentional closing, then the gripper can be protected from vibrations, but the device complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the damping function from a separate torsion spring device and integrates it into the stop element itself. The inclined locking surface of the stop element provides the damping effect directly, eliminating the need for a separate damping device while maintaining the prevention of unintentional closing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the damping function with the locking function in a single integrated stop element. The inclined locking surface combines the structural support role with the vibration damping role, allowing the pawl to be held in the released position while simultaneously providing damping during oscillations.
2Reliability
If a torsion spring damping device is used to slow pawl movement, then unintentional closing can be prevented, but the risk of spring failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the torsion spring with a simple inclined surface geometry that has no moving parts or elastic elements subject to fatigue. The inclined locking surface provides a passive, maintenance-free damping effect that eliminates the risk of spring breakage while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If an inclined locking surface with small angle is used, then self-locking effect increases, but the stroke height required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the inclination angle of the locking surface to achieve the right balance between self-locking effect and stroke height. By carefully selecting the angle parameter, the design achieves sufficient damping and self-locking while minimizing the required stroke height for the stop element to move between positions.
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
Prevents unintentional closing of the gripper device during transport, reducing the risk of damage and ensuring safety by increasing the necessary lifting height for the stop element to release the pawl, thus avoiding premature release and potential hazards without relying on additional damping devices.
Implementation Method 1
The second locking surface is inclined at an angle of less than 90° relative to the predetermined path of movement... The stop element is further designed to hold the pawl in the locked position by the second locking surface coming into contact with the first locking surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a stepping switch arrangement (100) for controlling the gripping movements of a gripper device (10). The stepping switch arrangement (100) has a pawl (122) which has a first locking surface (123) and is movable between a release position, in which the gripper device (10) performs a closing movement, and a locking position, in which the gripper device (10) is held in the open position. The stepping switch arrangement (100) further comprises a stop element (110) which has a second locking surface (113) and is configured to move along a predetermined path of movement (B) relative to the pawl (122) during gripping movements of the gripper device (10) and, when the gripper device (10) is held in the open position, to hold the pawl (122) in the locking position by the locking surfaces coming into contact.The second locking surface (113) is inclined relative to the path of movement (B) at an angle (α) which lies in a range of approximately 0° to approximately 85°.