Outrigger Mount Assembly with Dual-Axis Adjustment and Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outrigger mount assemblies lack the ability to provide highly adjustable, compact, and durable rotational and tilting adjustments with easy operation and effective locking mechanisms, particularly for supporting outriggers on structures like boat T-tops.
Innovation Solution
An outrigger mount assembly with a support member pivotable about horizontal and vertical axes, an actuator assembly with spline arrangements for configuration control, and a handle assembly for adjusting and locking the outrigger, along with a locking mechanism to secure the outrigger in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional outrigger mount assembly is used, then the structure is simple, but it lacks the ability to provide highly adjustable rotational and tilting adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is received within the housing, creating a nested arrangement where the actuator assembly operates within the confined space of the housing. The spline arrangements are nested within the actuator assembly, allowing multiple functional elements to be compactly integrated without increasing overall device footprint, thus providing high adjustability within a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the actuator assembly for rotational adjustment, the spline arrangements for tilting control, and the locking mechanism for position securing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to provide comprehensive adjustability without excessive overall complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a compact multiple-splined engagement arrangement is used, then the device becomes highly adjustable and compact, but the operation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator assembly combines multiple adjustment functions into a single integrated mechanism. By merging the rotational adjustment and tilting control into one actuator assembly with coordinated spline arrangements, the system provides comprehensive adjustability while maintaining ease of operation through a unified control interface rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each adjustment type.
Solution Approach 2:
The spline arrangements act as intermediaries between the actuator assembly and the support member, translating rotational input from the actuator into controlled tilting movements of the support member. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the operation by providing a mechanical advantage and smooth motion control, making the complex multiple-axis adjustment easy to operate through a single actuator.
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to secure the outrigger, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the position of the support member. As the support member moves to a desired position, the locking mechanism self-activates to secure it, eliminating the need for separate manual locking operations. This self-service approach maintains high locking reliability while minimizing the increase in operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is pre-positioned and spring-loaded to automatically engage when the support member reaches a stable position. This preliminary preparation of the locking mechanism ensures that locking action is already in place before full load is applied, enhancing reliability without requiring complex active locking systems that would increase device complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the support member is made pivotable about both horizontal and vertical axes, then the versatility improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides rotational adjustment about the vertical axis, controls tilting about the horizontal axis through the spline arrangements, and integrates the locking mechanism. This multi-functionality in a single actuator assembly achieves high versatility without proportionally increasing device complexity, as one component performs what would traditionally require multiple separate mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An outrigger mount assembly includes a support member configured to receive an outrigger therein, wherein the support member is pivotable about a substantially horizonal axis between first and second positions, and wherein the support member is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis between third and fourth positions, an actuator assembly movable between a first configuration where the support member is movable between the first and second positions and is prevented from moving between the third and fourth positions, and a second configuration where the support member is movable between the third and fourth positions and is prevented from moving between the first and second positions, and a handle assembly movable between a first extended position causing the actuator assembly to move to the first configuration, a second extended position causing the actuator assembly to move to the second configuration, and a retracted position.