Offset Tooth Beam Drive Assembly for RV Slide Outs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing expandable enclosures with slide outs in recreational vehicles and trailers are cumbersome to install and operate due to weighty and complex drive mechanisms, which complicates transportation and usage.
Innovation Solution
A drive assembly featuring a beam with offset rows of teeth and a dual gear wheel system, including a support wheel, that allows for efficient extension and retraction of slide outs, reducing weight and complexity while maintaining stability through alternating tooth engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional drive mechanism is used for slide outs, then the enclosure can be extended and retracted, but the weight and complexity of the drive assembly increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The beam is divided into multiple segments with teeth formed on flanges, allowing the drive mechanism to be constructed from simpler, modular components rather than a single complex piece
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having gear teeth on the rotating component engaging with a continuous rack, the patent inverts the approach by having teeth on stationary beam flanges engage with gear wheels, simplifying the moving parts
2Reliability
If a traditional drive mechanism is used for slide outs, then the enclosure can be extended and retracted, but the weight of the enclosure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of tooth engagement from a complex mechanical system and implements it through a simpler beam structure with stamped teeth, removing unnecessary weight
Solution Approach 2:
The beam is constructed from lighter materials or optimized cross-sections while maintaining structural integrity through the tooth engagement mechanism, changing physical parameters to reduce weight
3Reliability
If a complex drive assembly is used, then the slide out can be operated, but the installation time and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions (structural support, tooth engagement, lateral positioning) are merged into the single beam structure, reducing the number of separate components that need to be installed and aligned
Solution Approach 2:
The beam serves multiple functions simultaneously - providing structural support, enabling tooth engagement for drive mechanism, and defining lateral spacing - which simplifies installation by reducing the number of separate components
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 solution enables lightweight, easy-to-install, and efficient operation of slide outs, enhancing usability and reducing labor requirements for both installation and operation, while maintaining stability and load distribution.
Implementation Method 1
drive assembly having a rack and pinion drive used to extend or retract the slide out
Data Source
AI summary
A drive assembly for a slide out in an expandable enclosure, the drive assembly comprising a beam attachable to the slide out, the beam having a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth thereon, the first row of teeth and the second row of teeth extending parallel to each other on opposite sides of the beam wherein the teeth in the first row of teeth are offset relative to the teeth in the second row of teeth and a drive gear having a first gear wheel engagable with the first row of teeth and a second gear wheel engagable with the second row of teeth, and an actuator coupled to the beam to selectively extend and retract the beam.