Multi-Axis Safety Stop for Ball-Jointed Cylinder Retraction Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety stops for pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder actuators may interfere with the piston rod when it pivots on a ball joint, leading to unintended contact and retraction prevention failures in hydraulic system failures.
Innovation Solution
A safety stop that is pivotably attached to the actuator assembly and capable of rotating about multiple orthogonal axes, allowing it to accommodate the movement of the piston rod about the ball joint, with a two-piece design featuring a clevis and stop body that can be securely positioned to prevent retraction by contacting the cylinder and rod surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid safety stop is used to prevent piston rod retraction, then safety function is improved, but interference with ball joint pivoting occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The safety stop is transformed from a rigid fixed structure to a dynamic structure that can pivot about a first axis and rotate about a second axis. This allows the safety stop to adapt its position dynamically, clearing the piston rod during ball joint pivoting operations while maintaining its blocking function when needed for safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety stop is given rotational freedom about a second axis that is orthogonal to both the longitudinal axis and the first rotational axis. This adds a dimensional degree of freedom that allows the safety stop to clear the piston rod path during pivoting while still effectively blocking retraction when positioned correctly.
2Reliability
If a fixed safety stop is positioned to block retraction, then retraction prevention is improved, but contact interference with pivoting rod occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The safety stop incorporates pivot and rotation capabilities that allow it to dynamically adjust its position. During normal pivoting operations, it rotates to clear the piston rod path, eliminating harmful contact interference. When retraction blocking is needed, it pivots into the blocking position to prevent unwanted rod retraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety stop acts as an intermediary element between the piston rod and the cylinder. Through its multi-axis movement capability, it mediates between the conflicting requirements of allowing free pivoting motion and preventing unwanted retraction, clearing the path during pivoting and blocking during retraction attempts.
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator assembly for moving an implement attached to an agricultural vehicle. The actuator assembly includes an actuator comprising a longitudinal axis, a cylinder extending along the longitudinal axis, and a piston rod extending from the cylinder along the longitudinal axis and that is configured to be attached to the implement at a connection point. A safety stop is pivotably attached at the connection point and is movable between a deployed position where the safety stop is configured to block retraction of the actuator, and a retracted position where the safety stop is not configured to block retraction of the actuator. The safety stop is configured to rotate with respect to the actuator about a first rotational axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, as well as a second rotational axis that is orthogonal to both the longitudinal axis and the first rotational axis.