Magnetic Locker Clutch for Backdrive-Free Torque Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clutches face inefficiencies and durability issues due to backdrive occurrences, which reduce driving efficiency and require high-capacity motors, as they struggle to prevent rotation in the opposite direction of the intended driving force when no load is applied.
Innovation Solution
A clutch design featuring a locker mechanism that selectively engages with the housing's internal surface using a magnetic unit to control the serrated portion's interaction with the gear, preventing backdrive by restricting rotation when no driving force is applied and efficiently transferring torque when a force is applied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a clutch is designed to transfer driving force through a worm and gear arrangement, then torque transfer is achieved, but backdrive occurs causing rotation in the opposite direction when external torque is applied to the output terminal
Solution Approach 1:
A locker component is introduced as an intermediary element between the worm shaft and the gear arrangement. The locker includes a serrated portion that selectively engages with a gear portion on the housing, acting as a mediator to prevent backdrive while allowing forward torque transfer. This intermediary component resolves the contradiction by providing selective engagement that blocks reverse rotation without interfering with forward power transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The clutch design employs dynamic engagement and disengagement of the locker with the gear portion. When driving force is applied to the input shaft, the locker disengages from the gear portion to allow rotation. When no driving force is applied and external torque is present on the output shaft, the locker engages with the gear portion to prevent backdrive. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by adapting the engagement state based on the direction and presence of applied forces.
2Reliability
If backdrive is controlled by reducing gearing efficiency of the clutch, then backdrive is prevented, but a high-capacity motor is required and driving efficiency of the entire system decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The backdrive prevention function is extracted from the main torque transmission path by using a separate locker mechanism with serrated and gear portions. Instead of relying on reduced gearing efficiency throughout the entire clutch assembly, the backdrive prevention is achieved through a dedicated locking interface that only engages when needed. This extraction allows the main gear arrangement to maintain high efficiency while the separate locker provides reliable backdrive prevention.
3Reliability
If a locker is configured to deal with rotation force from an external shaft by contacting the housing internal surface, then torque from the external shaft is not applied to the input shaft, but the clutch must maintain precise control mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic unit replaces a purely mechanical control system with a magnetic field-based actuation system. The magnetic unit provides force to selectively engage or disengage the gear portion with the serrated portion based on the rotation direction of the input shaft. This substitution simplifies the control mechanism while maintaining precise control, as the magnetic field can be easily controlled and adjusted without complex mechanical linkages.
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 clutch effectively prevents backdrive, maintains high efficiency in forward rotation, and enhances durability by restricting reverse rotation of the input shaft, ensuring precise control and improved energy transfer.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic unit providing a force so that the gear portion is brought into contact with the serrated portion
Data Source
AI summary
A clutch for preventing backdrive, includes a housing: a cover portion positioned on one end portion of the housing; an external shaft, at least one portion of which is positioned inside the housing, the other end portion thereof passing through the housing; a rocker positioned between the housing and the cover portion and fastened to the external shaft; an input shaft, one end portion thereof being inserted into an opening portion in the locker, and the other end portion thereof passing through the cover portion; and a gear portion positioned on the housing or the cover portion so that a serrated portion positioned on the locker is selectively brought into contact with the gear portion, wherein rotation of the rocker is restricted so that the external shaft is rotated along a rotation direction of the input shaft.