Lid Locking Mechanism with Differential Drive for Stable Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The energy receiving port device lacks a stable locking mechanism for the lid in the closed state, leading to safety concerns and increased costs when a separate drive unit is provided, while relying on a motor for holding the lid results in a low holding force, making stable locking unreliable.
Innovation Solution
A lid opening and closing device with a link mechanism, a drive unit, a lock member, and a rotating body with a differential connecting mechanism that disengages the lock member from the link mechanism to allow the lid to be stably locked without a separate drive unit for unlocking, using a cam surface and differential groove to facilitate the operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate drive unit is provided to drive the lock member, then the locking reliability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive unit that operates the link mechanism with the drive unit that operates the lock member into a single integrated drive unit. This merging eliminates the need for a separate drive unit for the lock member, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining locking reliability through the coordinated operation of the unified drive unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The single drive unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it operates both the link mechanism for opening/closing the lid and the lock member for securing the lid in the closed position. This multi-functionality allows one drive unit to replace what would traditionally require two separate drive units, reducing overall system complexity.
2Device complexity
If the motor is used to hold the lid in closed state, then the device complexity is reduced, but the holding force becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lock member as an intermediary mechanical component that provides substantial holding force to secure the lid in the closed state. This lock member acts as a mediator between the drive unit and the lid, transferring and amplifying the holding capability beyond what the motor alone can provide, while still maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
3Reliability
If a lock mechanism is added to prevent lid operation in closed state, then the safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is integrated with the existing link mechanism and drive unit, rather than being added as a completely separate system. The lock member is positioned to engage with components of the link mechanism, and the single drive unit controls both the link mechanism and lock member, merging multiple functions into a unified system that improves safety without proportionally increasing complexity.
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 enables stable locking of the lid while maintaining cost-effectiveness by utilizing a single actuator to both disengage and operate the lock mechanism, ensuring reliable operation without the need for an additional drive unit.
Implementation Method 1
a cam surface is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body so that the lock member is in contact with the cam surface and the lock member is moved between the lock position and the unlock position
Implementation Method 2
a differential groove provided on one of the rotating body and the link mechanism, and extending in the rotation direction of the rotating body, and a differential connecting shaft provided on the other of the rotating body and the link mechanism, and arranged at one end or the other end of the differential groove
Data Source
AI summary
In the lid opening and closing device, the rotating body at the initial position rotates to one side in the rotation direction, so that the lock member is disengaged from the first link. Further, the first link and the rotating body are provided with a differential connecting mechanism, and the differential connecting mechanism connects the rotating body and the first link to operate the link mechanism at the retracted position after the lock member is disengaged from the first link, when the rotating body is rotating. As a result, the differential connecting mechanism imparts a time difference between the two operations of the rotating body. Therefore, the lock member and the link mechanism can be operated by rotationally driving the rotating body by a single actuator.