Overload Protection Coupling for Vehicle Tool Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle body production systems face costly repairs and production stoppages due to incorrect operation or tool collisions, which can damage mounting devices, and existing solutions like central fastening bolts require replacement upon failure.
Innovation Solution
A holding device with an overload protection coupling that decouples by overcoming clamping force rather than breaking a fastening bolt, allowing for simple and time-saving restoration of coupling, using elastically pretensioned clamping elements and adjustable force accumulators to manage release force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a central fastening bolt with a predetermined breaking point is used as an overload safety clutch, then damage to the holding device is prevented, but the bolt must be replaced after breaking, causing production stoppages and increased downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling is divided into two separable parts: a first coupling unit connected to the holding device and a second coupling unit connected to the tool element. This segmentation allows the tool element to be quickly detached and replaced without replacing the entire coupling mechanism, thereby reducing downtime while maintaining overload protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The release force of the overload protection coupling can be adjusted by changing parameters such as the spring constant of the elastic element or the geometry of the clamping elements. This allows flexible adaptation of the coupling's behavior to different tool elements and application requirements, optimizing both protection and operational characteristics.
2Reliability
If a fastening bolt is used as an overload safety clutch, then damage prevention is achieved, but restoring the coupling requires replacing the defective bolt, increasing repair complexity and time
Solution Approach 1:
The defective second coupling unit (connected to the tool element) can be extracted and replaced independently from the first coupling unit (connected to the holding device). This extraction principle simplifies repair by allowing replacement of only the necessary component rather than the entire coupling assembly, thereby improving ease of repair while maintaining damage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic element automatically resets the clamping elements to their clamping position after an overload event once the excessive force is removed. This self-service mechanism reduces the complexity of repair by automatically restoring the coupling's protective functionality without requiring manual intervention for the elastic element itself.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid clamping is used to secure the tool element, then stable holding is achieved, but small deflections cause immediate decoupling, reducing operational flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping elements are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position in response to deflection forces. The elastic element provides a restoring force that maintains clamping contact within normal operational ranges, enabling the coupling to accommodate small deflections while maintaining stable holding under normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic element acts as a cushion that absorbs and compensates for small deflection forces before they can cause decoupling. This beforehand cushioning allows the rigid clamping elements to maintain stable holding while the elastic element absorbs the variability, providing both stability and adaptability to normal operational deflections.
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
Reduces downtime by eliminating the need for bolt replacement and allows precise adjustment of release force, ensuring safe decoupling and easy reconnection without immediate damage from small deflections or overloads.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one clamping element being elastically pretensioned by means of the force accumulator in the direction of the connecting means
Implementation Method 2
The clamping element is elastically prestressed in the direction of the connecting means by means of the force accumulator, which comprises, for example, a compression spring
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~5c
AI summary
Proposed is a retention device (1) for the retention of at least one part (2), which is to be retained, in a vehicle body manufacturing system, having an overload protection coupling (1'), wherein the overload protection coupling (1') has a first and a second coupling unit (3, 4), wherein one of the first and second coupling units (3, 4) has a connecting means (5) which can be releasably coupled to the other coupling unit (3, 4), and wherein the other coupling unit (4, 3) has at least one clamping element (7) to which an element (8) for generating a clamping force which creates a connection between the clamping element (7) and the connecting means (5) is assigned in such a way that the connection can be automatically released by a release force which overcomes the clamping force.