Motor-Driven Telescopic Cylinders for Orientation-Independent Retraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telescopic apparatuses that use pneumatic or hydraulic pressure are complex and cannot contract when placed horizontally or upside down, as they rely on gravity for lowering.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic apparatus with nested cylindrical members that extend and contract using a motor-driven screw shaft system with a transmission mechanism, including helical grooves and axial grooves, allowing for rotational movement without pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, and utilizing feed screws and nuts for smooth extension and contraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If pneumatic pressure or hydraulic pressure is supplied into the first to the third cylindrical member, then the first to the third cylindrical member extend and can raise and lower the object, but the structure becomes complicated due to requiring seals, pumps, or tanks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pneumatic/hydraulic system with a mechanical screw shaft system. The motor-driven screw shafts with threadedly engaged nuts convert rotational motion into linear extension/contraction motion, eliminating the need for seals, pumps, and tanks while providing sufficient extension force to raise and lower objects
Solution Approach 2:
The screw shaft mechanism provides self-contained extension and contraction functionality. The threaded engagement between screw shafts and nuts automatically converts rotation to linear motion without requiring external pneumatic or hydraulic infrastructure, making the system self-sufficient
2Ease of operation
If the telescopic apparatus extends upward from the ground by use of pneumatic pressure or hydraulic pressure, then the object can be raised and lowered, but the telescopic apparatus cannot contract when placed horizontally or upside down
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing the gravity-dependent pneumatic/hydraulic system with a motor-driven screw shaft mechanism, the system gains orientation independence. The motor can rotate the screw shafts in either direction to extend or contract the telescopic apparatus regardless of whether it is positioned vertically, horizontally, or upside down
Solution Approach 2:
The motor-driven system provides dynamic control over extension and contraction. Unlike passive pneumatic/hydraulic systems that rely on gravity for retraction, the motor can actively drive the screw shafts in reverse to contract the apparatus in any orientation, providing adaptive functionality
3Volume of moving object
If the first and second screw shafts are inside the first, second and third cylindrical member in contracted state, then the telescopic apparatus maintains compactness, but the motor must be positioned outside the cylindrical members
Solution Approach 1:
The screw shafts are nested inside the telescopic cylindrical members during the contracted state, maximizing compactness. The motor is positioned outside and drives the screw shafts through transmission mechanisms, allowing the internal components to be compact while the driving mechanism remains accessible externally
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
Enables the telescopic apparatus to extend and contract smoothly without pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, maintaining compactness and allowing operation in various orientations, including horizontal and inverted positions, while preventing unintended extension under object weight without a brake.
Implementation Method 1
a motor configured to rotationally drive the first screw shaft
Implementation Method 2
a helical groove is formed in an outer surface of the first screw shaft
Implementation Method 3
a driver of the first transmission is provided with a key, a spline nut, or a ball spline nut that fits in the axial groove
Data Source
AI summary
A telescopic apparatus is provided which can cause three or more cylindrical members to extend and contract smoothly without use of pneumatic pressure and hydraulic pressure.A telescopic apparatus includes: a first to a third cylindrical member that are nested; screw shafts supported rotatably and respectively by the first and second cylindrical members; nuts mounted respectively on the second and third cylindrical members to be threadedly engaged with the screw shafts of the first and second cylindrical members; and a transmission configured to transmit the rotation of the screw shaft of the first cylindrical member to the screw shaft of the second cylindrical member and to be movable in an axial direction relative to the screw shaft of the first cylindrical member. The screw shafts of the first and second cylindrical members rotate at one time to cause the first to the third cylindrical member to extend and contract.