Operating Lever Sliding Link Path for Self-Centering Without Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing operating levers with rigid links face issues of wear and play due to rigid designs, leading to dead zones without noticeable restoring forces, necessitating flexible sections or springs for restoring forces, which can result in mechanical inefficiencies and increased wear.
Innovation Solution
A link system with at least two movably mounted link parts and restoring means that change position relative to the operating lever, featuring recesses forming a link path that narrows radially as the lever deviates from its zero position, generating an increasing restoring force without additional springs, allowing for a rigid operating lever with self-centering capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid cam is used to guide the operating lever, then the operating lever can maintain a rigid structure, but wear on the plunger or cam occurs and play or dead zone appears
Solution Approach 1:
The cam is divided into two separate cam halves that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the system to maintain rigidity while reducing wear through distributed contact and movement, eliminating the dead zone by enabling continuous adjustment between the two cam halves.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam halves are designed to be movable relative to each other rather than fixed, creating a dynamic system that can adapt during operation. This dynamic configuration allows the cam to maintain optimal contact with the operating lever while distributing wear across multiple surfaces and eliminating play through continuous adjustment.
2Ease of operation
If flexible section supported by spring is used to generate restoring force, then operating lever can return to zero position, but mechanical inefficiencies and increased wear occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cam system is designed to generate its own restoring force through the geometric configuration and relative movement of the two cam halves, eliminating the need for external springs or flexible sections. The system serves itself by using the cam geometry to automatically return the operating lever to the zero position, improving mechanical efficiency and reducing wear.
3Force
If cam sections are moved apart perpendicular to pivot plane, then restoring force can be generated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The restoring force generation is merged into the fundamental cam geometry and the relative movement of the two cam halves along the pivot plane. By combining the guiding function and restoring force generation into a single integrated mechanism, the system achieves the desired force without additional complex components or movements perpendicular to the pivot plane.
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 a compact, self-centering, and fail-safe operating module with reduced size and increased reliability, allowing for precise position detection and compatible pivoting and pushing functions, while eliminating the need for external restoring means, thus enhancing mechanical operation and tolerance.
Implementation Method 1
a return element acting on the at least one cam section and bringing it into a zero position
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an operating lever (1) with associated sliding system (2), wherein the sliding system (2) has at least one first sliding part (3) and restoring means (5) which act on the at least one sliding part (3) and transfer same to a zero position and wherein the operating lever (1) is guided in the sliding system (2), wherein the first sliding part (3) is mounted in a moveable manner such that a positional change of the operating lever (1) with respect to the sliding system (2) results in a movement of the at least one sliding part (3) towards the restoring means (5) acting on the at least one sliding part (3).