Hand Brake Lever Cam Linkage to Prevent Self-Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manually operated brake actuation devices for agricultural vehicles face challenges in generating sufficient frictional forces with limited user strength, particularly on sloping surfaces, and often result in self-locking issues due to the design of the connecting element and gear ratio progression.
Innovation Solution
A handbrake actuation device with a pivotally articulated brake lever and a connecting element that moves between positions remote and close to the axle, utilizing a coupling member to facilitate radial movement while preventing clamping, featuring a rod or flexible body for torque compensation and a link with angled freedom of movement to manage force transmission effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If slots in the frame and brake lever intersect at a small angle to achieve radial movement of the connecting element, then the connecting element can move radially, but significant frictional forces and self-locking occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coupling element as an intermediary component between the brake lever and the connecting element. This coupling element comprises a rod that articulates with the frame and connects to the connecting element, enabling radial movement while preventing direct slot-to-slot contact that causes friction and self-locking. The intermediary rod transfers motion without the harmful frictional effects of intersecting slots.
2Force
If the connecting element moves closer to the axis to increase contact pressure between friction surfaces, then braking force increases, but the transmission path becomes overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes in the cam geometry to control the movement of the connecting element. The cam is designed with specific curvature and profile characteristics that regulate how the connecting element approaches the axis, ensuring optimal contact pressure is achieved without excessive forces that would overload the transmission path. The cam profile parameters are optimized to balance braking force with transmission component strength.
3Manufacturing precision
If a rigid coupling element is used to position the connecting element, then positioning precision is improved, but friction impedes the pivoting movement of the brake lever
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static, rigid coupling element to a dynamic system where the coupling rod articulates with the frame through a pivot connection. This dynamic coupling allows the system to adapt during operation - maintaining precise positioning when needed while permitting smooth pivoting motion of the brake lever. The articulation point enables the coupling to accommodate angular movements without rigid constraints that would impede operation.
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 allows for reliable and easy operation of the brake lever in any position, maintaining low user force exertion despite increasing resistance, and effectively brings the friction surfaces into contact to achieve high friction levels without overloading the transmission path or hindering pivoting movement.
Implementation Method 1
The connecting element is movable on a cam of the brake lever between a position far from the axis and a position close to the axis
Implementation Method 2
The coupling element enables a radial movement of the connecting element, coupled to the pivoting movement of the brake lever, to be driven, while simultaneously preventing the connecting element from being clamped
Implementation Method 3
such a coupling element comprises a rod, one end of which is connected to the connecting element and the other end is articulated to the frame
Implementation Method 4
a brake must generate correspondingly greater frictional forces to secure them on a slope
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A handbrake actuation device for actuating a brake of a vehicle, particularly an agricultural vehicle, comprises a frame (2), a brake lever (1) pivotally mounted on the frame (2) about an axis (3), and a connecting element (15) for transmitting a movement of the brake lever (1) to a brake, which is movable on a cam (18) of the brake lever (1) between a position (21) far from the axis (3) and a position (22) near the axis (3). A coupling element (19) engages on one side with the connecting element (15) and on the other side with a point (23) of the frame (2) far from the axis (3) in order to control the distance of the connecting element (15) from the axis (3) depending on the position of the brake lever (1).