Pivotable Sensor Cassette for Toggle Clamp Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toggle clamping apparatuses in vehicle body construction require large and long slots for end position detection apparatus installation, making replacement time-consuming and vulnerable to environmental conditions, with potential contamination and shut-down times in production lines.
Innovation Solution
A detection unit with a pivotable sensor carrier and retainer, allowing for installation through a small opening, reducing join lengths and enabling easy replacement without disassembling the cylinder, and ensuring precise positioning with dimensional reference surfaces and flexible design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large and long slots are provided for end position detection apparatus installation, then the detection device can be installed, but the replacement becomes time-consuming and the housing becomes vulnerable to environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The detection device is divided into modular components: a retainer that mounts to the housing and a detection unit that can be independently installed and replaced. This segmentation allows the detection unit to be accessed through a small opening without requiring large slots, while maintaining housing integrity and reducing replacement time.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection unit is nested within the housing through a small opening, with the retainer serving as an interface structure. The detection device fits into a cavity within the housing, allowing installation through a minimized opening that maintains housing protection while enabling easy replacement.
2Ease of manufacture
If large and long slots are provided for detection device installation, then the detection device can be installed, but contamination risk increases and production line shut-down times increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detection device is segmented into a retainer and a detection unit, allowing the detection unit to be installed through a small opening. This eliminates the need for large slots that would expose the housing interior to contamination while maintaining ease of installation through the modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates installation of the detection unit through a small opening. It provides a mounting interface that allows the detection device to be installed without creating large openings in the housing, thus preventing contamination while maintaining installation convenience.
3Productivity
If the detection device is made exchangeable as a whole, then replacement speed increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection device is segmented into a retainer and a detection unit that can be exchanged as a complete module. This modular segmentation enables quick replacement of the entire detection unit without complex internal adjustments, while the retainer provides a simple mounting interface that minimizes overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is designed as a universal mounting structure that can accommodate the detection unit and provide sealing and positioning functions simultaneously. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional complex components while enabling fast exchange of the detection device as a complete unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A toggle clamping device for building vehicle bodies has a clamping head and a cylinder, which adjoins the cylinder-side end of the clamping head in axial extension and the piston rod of which passes axially through the cylinder and a cavity of the clamping head, a toggle clamping arrangement being fastened to the free end of the piston rod, the toggle clamping arrangement being coupled to a clamping arm, and an opening being provided in the housing, and a cavity being provided therein for the mounting of a detection device for detecting the end positions of the clamping head, and wherein the detection device is formed as an exchangeable part, a “cassette”. For simple exchange of the cassette, the detection device is made up of a retainer and at least one sensor carrier, and the retainer is connected to the at least one sensor carrier such that the retainer can pivot about a pivot axis, the pivot axis being oriented transversely to the direction of the piston rod.