Modular Locking Sleeve for Vehicle Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for adjusting vehicle body height, such as those using ball screw drives, are affected by impacts that negatively impact the movement thread, and require custom-designed locking sleeves for different applications, making them economically inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A modular locking sleeve with a stack of locking elements and intermediate elements, featuring rotating control cams and guide grooves, allows for adjustable axial positions, enabling flexible height adjustment while removing forces from the movement thread, thus protecting it from impact and allowing for cost-effective adaptation to various applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking device with a locking sleeve is used to protect the movement thread, then the movement thread is protected from impact forces, but the locking sleeve must be custom-designed for each application, increasing manufacturing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The locking sleeve is divided into multiple individual locking elements that can be combined in different sequences. Each locking element contains locking stops and guide grooves, and by stacking different numbers and types of these elements, various locking sleeve configurations can be achieved for different applications, eliminating the need for custom-designed locking sleeves for each case.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized locking elements are designed to be universally applicable across different applications. The same basic locking element design can be used in various combinations to create locking sleeves suitable for different height adjustment requirements, making the system multi-functional and adaptable without requiring application-specific custom designs.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a locking device is used to remove forces from the movement thread, then the movement thread durability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is segmented into multiple independent locking elements rather than using a single complex locking mechanism. Each element performs a specific locking function with locking stops and guide grooves, and their combined effect provides comprehensive protection for the movement thread while keeping each individual element simple in design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple locking stops are provided at different axial positions for height adjustment, then the adaptability to different applications is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking sleeve is segmented into multiple locking elements, each contributing locking stops at specific axial positions. By selecting and combining different numbers of these standardized elements, various height adjustment configurations can be achieved without requiring custom manufacturing for each configuration, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple locking elements are nested or stacked within the same locking sleeve structure. This nested arrangement allows different combinations of locking elements to provide different numbers and positions of locking stops, enabling height adjustment flexibility while using a compact, standardized sleeve design that reduces manufacturing complexity and cost.
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 modular locking sleeve effectively transfers forces between the vehicle body and wheels, reduces impact on the movement thread, and allows for multiple height settings, enhancing the economic adaptability and durability of the device.
Implementation Method 1
a movement thread (50), in particular a ball screw drive, which has a threaded spindle (52) and a spindle nut (51)
Implementation Method 2
The control cams (59) are guided in guide grooves (57) of a locking sleeve (55)
Data Source
AI summary
A device for adjusting the height of a vehicle body, containing a movement thread, which is arranged between the vehicle body and a wheel carrier. The movement thread has two threaded parts that can be rotated in relation to each other, which are formed by a spindle and a spindle nut, and a locking apparatus, which bridges the movement thread at at least two axial positions in a positive-locking manner and which has a locking sleeve having locking stops arranged over the periphery at different axial positions. The device is characterized in that the locking sleeve is modularly formed of a stack of at least one locking element containing locking stops and groove sections and at least one intermediate element containing only groove sections.