Lid Linkage Locking Mechanism Without a Separate Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy receiving port devices lack a lock mechanism to prevent the lid from moving when closed, necessitating additional drivers that increase costs.
Innovation Solution
A lid opening and closing device with a base, lid, engagement receiver, lock member, driver, and link mechanism that allows the lid to be locked without additional drivers by utilizing a relative rotation of the link mechanism to switch between locked and unlocked states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate driver is provided to drive the lock member, then the lid can be locked securely, but the cost of the energy receiving port device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driver is designed to perform multiple functions: it can drive both the link mechanism for opening/closing the lid and the lock member for locking/unlocking the lid. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate driver, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining secure locking capability
Solution Approach 2:
The driving functions for the link mechanism and the lock member are merged into a single driver unit. The driver can selectively engage with different mechanisms through switching means, combining what would traditionally require separate actuators into one integrated component, thereby reducing overall system complexity
2Reliability
If a lock mechanism is added to prevent lid movement when closed, then safety is improved, but additional components increase cost
Solution Approach 1:
The existing driver is made multi-functional to operate both the link mechanism and the lock member, eliminating the need for additional driving components. The switching means enables the single driver to selectively engage with different mechanisms, achieving safety enhancement without proportional cost increase
Solution Approach 2:
The lock mechanism is designed to be actuated by the existing driver through the switching means, making the system self-sufficient. The driver that already exists in the system is utilized to provide the locking function, rather than requiring completely separate locking and driving components
Data Source
AI summary
Locking a lid while controlling cost increases. In a lid opening and closing device, an engagement receiver and a lock member is provided on a base and a lid respectively. A base-end portion of a drive-link is rotatably coupled to the base, and a tip-end portion of the drive-link is coupled to the drive-link coupling of the lid. By rotating the drive-link to one side in a rotation direction by an actuator, the lid moves from an open to a closed position to close the opening. The drive-link coupling couples the drive-link to the lid so that a relative rotation of the drive-link to the lid in the closed position is allowed. When the drive-link rotates relative to the lid to said one side in the rotation direction, the lock member is switched to a locked state. This allows the lock member to be in the locked state utilizing the actuator.