Guide Bearing Haptic Feedback Rolling Friction Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for switching and controlling electrical apparatuses often have complex designs that compromise operational reliability and service life due to high wear from resistances in the actuating element's travel, which are intended to create haptics for sensing operating states.
Innovation Solution
A guide bearing with a rolling-body mount and a haptic spring that allows for low-wear rolling or sliding resistance between bearing parts, using a rolling body like a ball or sphere with a two-dimensionally curved surface, and a control path with latching recesses and track grooves to create distinct resistance profiles for haptic feedback, enhancing operational reliability and service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If resistances are arranged in the travel of the actuating element to create haptics for sensing operating states, then haptic feedback is improved, but wear on the guide bearing increases and service life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A rolling body is introduced as an intermediary element between the actuating element and the guide bearing. This rolling body creates the necessary haptic resistance through its interaction with the guide bearing surfaces, while simultaneously reducing direct friction and wear between the bearing parts. The rolling body acts as a mediator that transforms sliding friction into rolling friction, thereby maintaining haptic feedback quality while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional sliding friction mechanism with a rolling friction mechanism. Instead of relying on direct sliding contact between the actuating element and guide bearing to create haptics, the system uses a rolling body that converts sliding motion into rolling motion, significantly reducing wear and improving service life while maintaining the necessary haptic resistance profile.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex switching arrangements are used to create multiple operating states, then functionality is improved, but structural complexity increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide bearing is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical guidance for the actuating element, creates haptic feedback through the rolling body interaction, defines multiple operating states through its geometric features, and reduces wear through the rolling friction mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of haptic resistance generation, operating state definition, and mechanical guidance into a single integrated guide bearing structure. The control path geometry within the guide bearing simultaneously defines the travel limits, creates haptic feedback through the rolling body, and establishes multiple stable operating positions, thereby reducing the overall structural complexity compared to separate components for each function.
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 significantly increases operational reliability and service life by providing low-wear resistance profiles that effectively sense operating states and reduce wear on the guide bearing, making it suitable for use in surgical and other applications.
Implementation Method 1
a rolling-body mount (6) constructed on the switch housing (1) with a haptic spring (9) pressing the rolling body (7) onto the control path (3)
Implementation Method 2
The resistances acting between the bearing parts in the travel of the actuating element during an actuation of the actuating element are therefore based on an advantageously low-wear rolling and/or sliding of the rolling body
Implementation Method 3
an advantageously low-wear rolling and/or sliding of the rolling body on at least one of the two bearing parts
Data Source
AI summary
A device for switching and controlling electrical apparatus, has a guide bearing for creating haptics indicating the position of the device. The guide bearing has one bearing part constructed as a switch housing and one bearing part constructed as an actuating element. The guide bearing has a control path formed on one of the bearing parts and a rolling-body mount constructed on the other bearing part. A rolling body is held in the rolling-body mount. A haptic spring presses the rolling body onto the control path. The structure of this device is suitable for creating haptics, without the operational reliability and service life of the guide bearing being appreciably impaired.