Linear Drive Locking Bolt Lever for Secure Manual Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking devices for linear drives are not cost-effective and lack functional reliability, especially in securing the moveable component under external forces and poor visibility conditions.
Innovation Solution
A locking device utilizing a pivoted lever and lever drive mechanism that operates on the quick-clamping principle, with a locking bolt that is articulated to the pivoting lever, allowing for secure locking and easy manual operation, eliminating the need for hydraulic clamping and enabling secure holding even under external forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a hydraulic working cylinder with threaded spindle is used for linear drive, then the linear adjustment function is achieved, but the rotational movement of the spindle requires complex locking arrangements and energy-consuming clamping mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the threaded spindle from the system entirely. Instead of using a hydraulic working cylinder with a threaded spindle that requires complex locking arrangements, the patent employs a direct hydraulic piston-rod unit that achieves linear adjustment without rotational movement, thereby removing the need for energy-consuming clamping mechanisms and simplifying the locking arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical threaded spindle system with a direct hydraulic actuation system. The piston-rod unit provides linear motion directly through hydraulic pressure without requiring rotational-to-linear conversion, substituting a complex mechanical threading and clamping system with a simpler hydraulic direct-drive system
2Ease of operation
If manual locking via pivoting lever is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but the locking mechanism must be sufficiently robust to resist external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a dynamic locking mechanism where the locking bolt is articulated to the pivoting lever through a lever drive. This allows the locking bolt to be easily actuated manually through the pivoting lever while simultaneously providing sufficient mechanical advantage to resist external forces when in the locked position. The lever drive mechanism dynamically adapts to provide both ease of operation and force resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The locking bolt acts as an intermediary between the pivoting lever and the component to be locked. The articulated connection through the lever drive allows the pivoting lever to easily actuate the locking bolt while the locking bolt itself provides the robust mechanical interface that resists external forces, mediating between the easy-to-operate lever and the force-resistant locking function
3Ease of operation
If the locking bolt is articulated to the pivoting lever via lever drive, then the quick-clamping principle is achieved with low actuation forces, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting lever with articulated locking bolt serves multiple functions: it provides the actuating mechanism for locking, serves as the quick-clamping principle implementation, and simultaneously provides the mechanical advantage for low actuation forces. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity despite the articulated mechanism
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 a cost-effective, functionally reliable locking mechanism that ensures secure locking and easy operation, even in low visibility conditions, with low actuation forces required, and prevents unintentional release, ensuring the component is held securely in the locked state.
Implementation Method 1
acting on the locking bar in every travel position in favor of the released position a compression spring as energy store
Implementation Method 2
a lever drive which has a lever part that is articulated with its one end pivotably on the locking bar and with its other end on the pivoted lever
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
2. Locking device for a linear drive (10) with an actuating device (12) which moves a locking bolt (14) from an unactuated release position to an actuated locking position and vice versa, wherein the locking bolt (14) engages a component (16) of the linear drive (10) and fixes the component (16) in a predefinable position relative to a housing (18) in which the component (16) is guided longitudinally, wherein the actuating device (12) has a pivot lever (20) which, when moved towards an initial position, lifts the locking bolt (14) from the locking position with the component (10) into the release position and, when moved towards an actuating position, moves the locking bolt (14) from the release position into the locking position, and wherein the locking bolt (14) is articulated to the pivot lever (20) by means of a lever drive (22) as part of the actuating device (12).