Locking Bracket With Guided Pin Alignment for Heavy Attachments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing attachment systems for machinery, such as blower kits and mower decks, are cumbersome and time-consuming to attach and detach, particularly for large commercial mowers, due to the bulkiness and weight of the attachments, as well as the difficulty in aligning and inserting locking pins.
Innovation Solution
A locking bracket with a U-shaped pin that is easily movable between a locked position and a storage position or other unlocked position, featuring a guide portion to assist in proper alignment of the attachment component, and a biasing member to securely hold the pin in place without requiring additional retention components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a T-shaped pin and clip mechanism is used to secure the attachment, then the attachment is firmly locked in place, but it becomes difficult to insert and remove the pin due to misalignment issues
Solution Approach 1:
A guide tab is introduced as an intermediary element that mediates between the attachment component and the bracket. The guide tab aligns the opening of the U-shaped locking pin with the engagement member before the pin is inserted, eliminating misalignment issues while maintaining secure locking
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional elements: the U-shaped locking pin, the guide tab, and the engagement member. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function independently - the guide tab handles alignment, the pin provides locking, and the engagement member provides the locking surface
2Reliability
If traditional locking pins are used, then secure locking is achieved, but the attachment and detachment process becomes time-consuming and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The locking pin is designed to be movable between a locked position (where it engages the engagement member) and an unlocked position (where it can be easily removed). This dynamic design allows quick transition between locked and unlocked states, reducing attachment and detachment time while maintaining security when locked
Solution Approach 2:
The guide tab serves as a mediator that facilitates quick alignment during the attachment process. By pre-aligning the locking pin opening with the engagement member, the guide tab eliminates the time-consuming alignment step that would otherwise be required
3Device complexity
If the locking pin is held in place without additional retention components, then the device complexity is reduced, but the pin may not be securely held in the locked position
Solution Approach 1:
The U-shaped locking pin is designed to be self-retaining through its geometry. The curved shape of the pin creates friction and mechanical interference with the engagement member that automatically holds the pin in the locked position without requiring additional retention components like clips or springs
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 locking bracket significantly simplifies the attachment and detachment process by allowing easy movement of the locking pin between positions, facilitating quick switching of components and reducing the need for manual alignment and insertion of pins, thereby improving efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member to securely hold the pin in place
Implementation Method 2
featuring a guide portion to assist in proper alignment of the attachment component
Data Source
AI summary
A locking bracket and methods of using the same are disclosed. The locking bracket includes a rigid body and a locking pin slidably and rotatably coupled to the rigid body and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. An engagement member can enter and exit the rigid body when the locking pin is in the unlocked position but is locked to the rigid body when the locking pin is in the locked position. Optionally, the rigid body may include a guide portion that guides the engagement member to a mounting position within the rigid body. The methods include swinging an attachment component towards a main body until the engagement member engages the locking bracket coupled to the main body, removing the locking pin from the unlocked position, and locking the attachment component to the bracket by placing the locking pin in the locked position.