Radar Calibration Bracket Self-Locking Slider for Safe Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bracket apparatuses for radar calibration lack a self-locking mechanism, causing the slider to potentially fall freely and leading to safety hazards during the calibration of automobile radar systems.
Innovation Solution
A bracket apparatus with a clamping assembly that includes a sliding member, a push rod assembly, and an elastic member, which provides an elastic restoring force to securely fix the slider to the vertical rod, preventing free fall and allowing for adjustable positioning of the calibration element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the slider is mounted to the vertical rod without a self-locking mechanism, then the slider can move freely for positioning adjustment, but the slider may fall freely and cause safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member (spring) automatically provides locking force to the slider without requiring external intervention. The spring continuously exerts force on the clamping plate to maintain contact with the vertical rod, creating a self-locking mechanism that operates passively once assembled, thus ensuring safety without compromising positioning ease
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member is pre-loaded to exert a locking force on the slider before any potential fall occurs. This preliminary anti-action prevents the harmful effect (free fall) by maintaining continuous contact pressure between the clamping plate and vertical rod, counteracting gravitational force on the slider
2Reliability
If a clamping assembly with elastic member is added to the bracket apparatus, then the slider is secured and cannot fall freely, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping assembly is divided into distinct functional components: the elastic member (spring), the clamping plate, and the handle mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall simplicity. The spring provides locking force, the clamping plate contacts the vertical rod, and the handle enables easy release, collectively achieving safety without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping plate serves as an intermediary element between the elastic member and the vertical rod. The spring exerts force on the clamping plate, which in turn contacts the vertical rod to prevent slider movement. This intermediary structure distributes the locking force and simplifies the interaction between components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability
3Reliability
If the backing plate tightly abuts against the vertical rod through elastic restoring force, then the sliding member is fixed and cannot move, but the ability to adjust height is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping assembly transitions between two dynamic states: locked and unlocked. In the locked state, the elastic member maintains tight contact between the clamping plate and vertical rod for stable positioning. In the unlocked state, the handle mechanism releases the clamping plate, allowing the slider to move freely for height adjustment. This dynamic switching capability maintains both locking stability and adjustability versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping mechanism operates through periodic action where the elastic member continuously applies locking force, and the handle mechanism periodically releases and re-engages the lock. This periodic cycling between locked and unlocked states enables repeated height adjustments while maintaining stable locking during calibration, balancing adaptability with reliability
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 effectively prevents the slider from falling and allows for adjustable height settings to meet various calibration requirements, enhancing safety and precision in radar calibration processes.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic member is disposed between an inner wall of the sliding member and the backing plate and is configured to provide an elastic restoring force
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to the technical field of automobile maintenance and repair as well as device calibration, and in particular, to a bracket apparatus. The bracket apparatus includes a base, a vertical rod and a clamping assembly. One end of the vertical rod is mounted to the base. The clamping assembly is mounted to the vertical rod. The clamping assembly includes a sliding member, a push rod assembly, a handle and an elastic member. One end of the sliding member is sleeved on the vertical rod. The sliding member is movable along the vertical rod. An other end of the sliding member is configured to carry a calibration element. The push rod assembly can be movably mounted to the sliding member in a preset direction. Two ends of the elastic member respectively abut against an inner wall of the sliding member and the push rod assembly. The elastic member can drive one end of the push rod assembly to be tightly pressed against the vertical rod. The sliding member is fixed to the vertical rod to prevent the sliding member from free falling and smashing. In addition, the handle is rotatably mounted to the sliding member to drive one end of the push rod assembly to be removed from contact with the vertical rod, so that the sliding member is slidable freely along the vertical rod. Therefore, the height of the calibration apparatus hung on the sliding member can be adjusted as needed, to meet different height requirements and calibration requirements.