Telescopic Mower Locking Device with Repulsion Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current locking mechanisms for retractable sections of garden tools, such as mowers, fail to ensure the correct locking position is achieved, leading to reduced fastening force and potential retraction during operation, causing user confusion and abnormal operation.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with a repulsion generating member, such as a torsion spring, arranged between the base and the operating lever, which applies a repulsion force to the operating lever during its movement from the releasing to the locking position, ensuring the lever returns to the releasing position if not fully locked, providing an indication to the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking mechanism is designed without a repulsion generating member, then the structure is simpler, but the operating lever cannot provide clear indication when not fully locked, leading to user confusion and potential retraction during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The repulsion generating member provides force feedback to the operating lever. When the locking member is not fully engaged with the locking groove, the repulsion force pushes the operating lever back toward the releasing position, giving the user tactile feedback that the locking is incomplete. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable locking while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The repulsion generating member is pre-loaded to provide a repulsion force that acts before the locking member fully engages with the locking groove. This beforehand cushioning ensures that any incomplete locking action is immediately counteracted by the repulsion force, preventing potential retraction during operation and ensuring locking reliability from the outset.
2Ease of operation
If the operating lever is allowed to remain in intermediate positions, then the device operation is more flexible, but the fastening force is insufficient and the pushing rod may retract during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The repulsion generating member applies a preliminary anti-action force that opposes any intermediate positioning of the operating lever. As the user moves the operating lever from the releasing position toward the locking position, the repulsion force continuously acts to push it back unless the locking member fully engages with the locking groove, at which point the geometric constraint overrides the repulsion force. This ensures that only the fully locked position is stable, providing sufficient fastening force while maintaining ease of operation through clear positional feedback.
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 repulsion generating member ensures the operating lever returns to the releasing position if not fully locked, preventing relative sliding between the inner and outer tubes and indicating incorrect positioning, thus maintaining proper operation and preventing damage.
Implementation Method 1
a repulsion generating member arranged between said base and said operating lever, for generating a repulsion force for applying to said operating lever during the movement of said operating lever from said releasing position to said locking position
Data Source
AI summary
A locking device includes an operating lever, a base and a repulsion generating member, wherein the operating lever has a releasing position and a locking position relative to the base, and the repulsion generating member is arranged between the base and the operating lever and generates a repulsion force for application to the operating lever during movement from the releasing position to the locking position. When the operating lever does not completely reach the locking position due to abnormal operation, the repulsion generating member will cause the operating lever to return to the releasing position thereby provide an indication. The locking device can thus provide an indication when the locking operation does not reach the correct position, thereby avoiding user confusion and abnormal operation.