Cylindrical Body Locking Jaws With Pivotable Tab Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking devices for symmetric cylindrical bodies suffer from irregular rotary motion due to point-like contact between the operation tab and actuation element, leading to less-than-perfect closure and potential malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable operation tab with two opposite planar faces is integrated into the rotatable jaw supporting ring, allowing for consistent force distribution and preventing surface deformation, ensuring regular rotary motion and repeatable tightening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a monolithic operation tab is used that extends from the rotatable jaw supporting ring, then the structure is simple and robust, but continuous mutual pressure with point-like contact causes upsetting of contact surfaces leading to irregular rotary motion
Solution Approach 1:
The operation tab is separated from the jaw supporting ring by inserting a cylindrical element into a seat on the jaw supporting ring. This segmentation allows the operation tab to rotate independently within the cylindrical element, distributing contact pressure along the cylindrical surface rather than at a single point, thereby preventing surface deformation and ensuring regular rotary motion.
2Force
If point-like contact is used between the operation tab and actuation element, then the contact area is minimal reducing friction, but the contact surfaces deform under continuous pressure causing malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The contact interface is transformed from a point-like contact (zero-dimensional) to a surface contact along the cylindrical element (one-dimensional). The operation tab encounters planar surfaces formed by shoulders on the actuation element along the cylindrical surface, distributing the continuous mutual pressure across a larger area and preventing surface upsetting.
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 ensures a regular rotary motion of the jaw supporting ring and continuous, repeatable tightening of the locking device, maintaining performance, effectiveness, and durability comparable to or exceeding that of similar devices.
Implementation Method 1
a threaded actuation element, which is screwed into a corresponding hole in said base plate, designed to act on an operation tab that extends from said rotatable jaw supporting ring
Implementation Method 2
a cam mechanism for the movement in a radial direction of a plurality of movable engagement jaws
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A locking device (10) for a symmetric cylindrical body fixing a semi- finished product to a workstation, comprising: - an annular locking body with movable jaws (11), which in turn comprises a base plate (12) which supports a cam mechanism (13) for moving in a radial direction a plurality of movable engagement jaws (14), - the cam mechanism (13) comprising a rotatable jaw supporting ring (15), which is adapted to be rotated by means of a threaded actuation element (16), which is screwed into a corresponding hole (17) in the base plate (12) and is designed to act on an operation tab (18) which extends from said rotatable jaw supporting ring (15), - the threaded actuation element (16) comprising a central portion (21) having a reduced cross-section which is adapted to accommodate the operation tab (18) of the jaw supporting ring (15), - the operation tab (18) being pivotable, extending from a cylindrical insert (40) that is inserted so that it can rotate within a complementarily shaped seat (41) formed in the rotatable jaw supporting ring (15).