Rectangular-Spring Umbrella Pole Transmission for Low-Torque Motors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional electric umbrellas require high torque motors due to the need for compressing and releasing a spring during opening and folding, which increases the size and cost of the motor and umbrella.
Innovation Solution
The use of a rectangular spring in the umbrella pole device, combined with a guiding spring portion and sliders, allows for a telescopic mechanism that minimizes the torque requirement by avoiding compression of the spring, enabling a smaller and less expensive motor to operate the umbrella.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional spring compression mechanism is used to open and fold the electric umbrella, then the opening and folding function is achieved, but the motor torque requirement increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the spring compression function from the motor-driven system. The rectangular spring is configured to guide the telescopic tubes during extension and retraction, but the motor only needs to overcome friction and gravity, not compress the spring. This separation of functions resolves the contradiction by achieving automatic opening/folding without high torque requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using the motor to compress the spring and then releasing it to open the umbrella (traditional approach), the patent inverts the mechanism: the rectangular spring passively guides the tubes during natural extension, and the motor only provides minimal force to overcome resistance. This inversion eliminates the need for high torque while maintaining the automatic operation function.
2Ease of operation
If a high torque motor is used to compress and release the spring, then the opening and folding function is achieved, but the motor size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring compression function from the motor's responsibility. The motor only needs to provide minimal torque to overcome friction and gravity during tube extension/retraction, while the rectangular spring passively guides the motion. This extraction allows using a smaller, more cost-effective motor while maintaining electrical driving capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simpler, less expensive motor configuration that doesn't require high torque capabilities. By using the rectangular spring guidance mechanism instead of spring compression, the system can utilize a smaller, more affordable motor, reducing overall system cost and size.
3Force
If the rectangular spring is used for guiding without compression, then the torque requirement is reduced, but the mechanism complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The rectangular spring serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the telescopic tubes during extension and retraction, provides structural support, and eliminates the need for separate compression mechanisms. This multi-functionality reduces overall mechanism complexity while achieving low torque requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the guidance function and structural support function into the rectangular spring component. By combining these functions and eliminating the spring compression mechanism, the overall transmission mechanism becomes simpler despite the unique rectangular spring configuration.
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
This design reduces the torque needed for the motor, allowing for a smaller and more cost-effective electric umbrella by using a rectangular spring that avoids compression, thus minimizing the size of the umbrella head and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
the second transmission tube is a rectangular spring
Implementation Method 2
When the first transmission tube rotates, the second transmission tube can move towards the end away from the umbrella head, and can apply a force to the outer casing
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are an umbrella pole device, an electric umbrella and a telescopic device. The umbrella pole device includes an umbrella head, a middle rod, and an umbrella pole transmission assembly. The middle rod includes a plurality of casings, the casing in an innermost part of the middle rod is an inner casing, the casing in an outermost part of the middle rod is an outer casing, and one end of the inner casing is connected to the umbrella head. The umbrella pole transmission assembly is arranged in the inner casing, including a first transmission tube and a second transmission tube. The first transmission tube is telescopically sleeved with the second transmission tube. One end of the transmission tube is rotatably connected to the umbrella head, and one of the first transmission tube and the second transmission tube is a rectangular spring. When the first transmission tube rotates in a first direction, the second transmission tube can move towards a direction away from the umbrella head, and a force can be exerted on the outer casing, making the plurality of sleeves form an end-to-end long rod.