Jump Drive Snap-Action Safety Device for Switching Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing jump drives experience unsecured time intervals, which pose a risk to reliable operation and increase with wear, leading to undefined movements of the moving part.

Innovation Solution

A snap-action drive with a force-controlled safety device that secures the moving part in end positions, using a bistable system and dead center springs to ensure stable positioning and defined movement profiles, reducing unsecured time intervals and enhancing operational reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mechanism is designed with little play to reduce unsecured time intervals, then the operational reliability is improved, but the effectiveness is reduced with increasing wear, so that the risk of undefined movements increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidstability of moving part positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The safety device is pre-configured with locking elements that can be inserted into recesses of the moving part to block movements before undefined movements can occur. The locking elements are held in a blocking position by a holding element until a triggering event causes them to extend into the recesses, providing preliminary security against wear-induced play.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The locking element acts as an intermediary between the safety device and the moving part, providing a mechanical connection that secures the moving part in end positions. This intermediary component transfers the securing force from the safety device to the moving part, ensuring stable positioning even when wear occurs in the main mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If locking elements are inserted into recesses to block movement, then the moving part is secured in end positions, but time intervals occur in which the moving part is unsecured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecuring of moving partVSAvoidunsecured time intervals
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The locking elements operate periodically, being held in a blocking position during normal operation and then extending into the recesses at specific moments to secure the moving part. This periodic action ensures the moving part is secured at critical moments while minimizing unsecured time intervals between locking events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The holding element continuously maintains the locking elements in a blocking position, ensuring they are ready to secure the moving part at any moment. This continuous holding action eliminates gaps in security, as the locking elements are always positioned to immediately block movement when needed, without unsecured intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 provides improved operational reliability by ensuring the moving part is constantly secured, allowing for abrupt switching movements and maintaining defined switching behavior, even under varying wear conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The jump drive has a gear which has a moving part that is capable of oscillating. The energy store can be part of the transmission, it being possible for the energy store to be charged and/or discharged via the transmission.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic energy storage: Spring

Implementation Method 2

A further advantageous embodiment can provide that the safety device has a dead center spring.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3282464B1Jump drive and switching device with jump drive
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3282464B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3282464B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3282464B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A spring drive (5) for a switching device (1) comprises an energy storage device (13), a pendulum-like moving part (7), and a locking device (17) for the moving part (7). The locking device (17) secures a position of the pendulum-like moving part (7) by means of a force, whereby a reversal of direction of the moving part (7) occurs against the force.