Linear Actuator Dual-Sided Guide Surface Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional linear actuators require two versions with ports, adjusters, and sensors on both side surfaces, leading to increased equipment costs and space requirements due to the need for larger cylinder bodies to accommodate these features, making management cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A linear actuator design with first and second guide surfaces on the cylinder body, allowing for selective assembly direction changes without increasing the overall size, featuring guide grooves, bulging portions, and pin insertion holes for flexible positioning of the slide table and guide mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ports, sensor grooves, and adjuster installation members are disposed on both side surfaces of the cylinder body to enable selective assembly directions, then the adaptability of the linear actuator is improved, but the cylinder body becomes larger in size
Solution Approach 1:
The cylinder body is divided into functionally independent segments: one side surface contains ports and adjuster installation members, while the opposite side surface contains sensor grooves. This segmentation allows each feature to be positioned on specific surfaces without requiring all features to be available on all surfaces, enabling selective assembly directions without increasing overall cylinder body size.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional symmetric arrangement (where all features must be available on all sides) to a three-dimensional asymmetric arrangement (where features are strategically positioned on specific surfaces). By utilizing the vertical and depth dimensions of the cylinder body, the design achieves selective assembly capability without expanding the horizontal footprint or overall volume.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two types of linear actuators are prepared with ports and adjusters on opposite side surfaces to meet different use requirements, then the adaptability is improved, but the equipment cost and management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single linear actuator design incorporates multiple functional configurations within one body by strategically positioning ports, sensor grooves, and adjuster installation members on specific surfaces. This universal design allows the same actuator model to be assembled in different orientations depending on the application requirements, eliminating the need to maintain multiple specialized actuator types in inventory.
3Adaptability or versatility
If ports, sensor grooves, and adjuster installation members are disposed on both side surfaces, then the selective assembly direction is enabled, but the space required for storage and management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the requirement for duplicate features from the design by recognizing that not all features need to be present on all surfaces. By taking out the assumption of symmetry and strategically placing only the necessary features on the appropriate surfaces, the design achieves assembly flexibility without requiring duplicate actuators for storage.
Data Source
AI summary
A cylinder body includes a first guide surface made up from first guide grooves and a first bulging portion, wherein a slide table is displaceably supported on the first guide surface via a guide mechanism. Additionally, guide members of a guide block that constitutes the guide mechanism are inserted into and fixed within the first guide grooves. Further, the cylinder body is equipped with a second guide surface, which is formed with substantially the same shape as the first guide surface. In the event that the first guide surface is oriented upwardly and the slide table is installed thereon, the second guide surface acts as a mounting surface, whereas, in the event that the second guide surface is oriented upwardly and the slide table is installed thereon, the first guide surface acts as the mounting surface.