Electric Locking Unit Spring Worm Shaft Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric locking units face challenges in ensuring reliable operation with easy installation and a compact design, often experiencing issues with twisting and excessive friction during transitions between coupled and decoupled states.
Innovation Solution
The spring member engages with the worm shaft via a reduced diameter over at least one turn, limiting the angle to 320°-960°, and features a polygonal outer contour for axial displacement, reducing twisting risk and ensuring low friction, with a coupling member that includes a spring retaining core and deformation regions for stable connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the spring member engages with the worm shaft via a reduced diameter over at least one turn, then the coupling reliability is improved and twisting is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member features a localized reduced diameter section at its proximal end that engages with the worm shaft. This local geometric variation provides the necessary engagement without requiring complex overall结构设计, resolving the contradiction between improved coupling reliability and device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the coupling member is mounted axially slidably with a polygonal outer contour, then friction is minimized and twisting is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling member incorporates a polygonal outer contour instead of a cylindrical one, creating asymmetric geometric features that engage with corresponding features on the worm shaft. This asymmetric design reduces friction and twisting during axial sliding while the polygonal geometry provides built-in alignment that reduces manufacturing precision requirements.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the spring member is compressed or extended into a bias position, then energy storage capability is improved, but the force requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member is designed to dynamically compress and extend between operational positions, storing and releasing mechanical energy. The reduced diameter engagement section allows controlled compression within acceptable force limits, enabling energy storage capability while managing force requirements through the spring's elastic deformation.
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
This design enhances the coupling mechanism's reliability, reduces twisting, minimizes friction, and simplifies installation, while providing energy storage capabilities and improved operational efficiency with reduced power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the spring member is connected, at a distal end portion, to the coupling member and, at an opposite proximal end portion, is axially slidably coupled with the worm shaft of the electric motor to convert a rotation of the worm shaft into a linear motion of the proximal end portion of the spring member
Data Source
AI summary
An electric locking unit comprising a coupling device is described, the coupling device comprising an electric motor, a spring member, and a coupling member, the electric motor comprising a worm shaft with a helical winding. The coupling member is mounted axially slidably in the direction of extension of the worm shaft and has a contour configured for mechanically couple with a locking member. The spring member is connected, at a distal end portion, to the coupling member and, at an opposite proximal end portion, is axially slidably coupled with the worm shaft of the electric motor to convert a rotation of the worm shaft into a linear motion of the proximal end portion of the spring member. The worm shaft is idling when the spring member that is compressed or extended into a bias position reaches one of the two end position of the locking cylinder in the coupled or decoupled state. The proximal end portion of the spring member has a reduced diameter over at least one winding wrap over the worm shaft, such that the spring member is able to engage with the worm shaft via this at least one winding wrap.