Rollable Bag Awning Gearbox Torque Management

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing roll-up sack awnings require manual effort and often necessitate climbing, posing difficulties for older individuals and increasing the risk of accidents due to the high installation height and weight of the awning shaft.

Innovation Solution

A manually operated or electric motor-driven device with a gear system, including a worm deflection gear and planetary gear, is integrated into the awning shaft to facilitate easy rolling up, allowing for manual or motorized rotation of the awning shaft, with supports to absorb torque and ensure safe stowage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual rolling up of the awning shaft is used, then the structure remains simple, but the effort required increases and climbing becomes necessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of rolling upVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A gearbox is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the manual crank handle and the awning shaft. The gearbox contains gears that transmit and amplify the rotational force, making it easier to rotate the heavy awning shaft. This mediator converts small manual input torque into sufficient output torque to roll up the awning fabric onto the shaft.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The direct manual rotation of the awning shaft is replaced with a mechanical advantage system using a gearbox and crank handle. Instead of directly applying force to rotate the heavy shaft, the user operates a crank that drives the gearbox, which then drives the shaft through gear mechanisms, substituting a simple mechanical system with a mechanically amplified system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Area of stationary object

If the awning shaft is positioned at high mounting height, then the awning coverage is improved, but the risk of accidents during rolling up increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveawning coverageVSAvoidaccident risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The manual climbing and hand-rolling operation is replaced with a ground-level crank operation. The crank handle allows the user to stand on the ground and generate rotational force that is transmitted through the gearbox to the awning shaft, eliminating the need to climb ladders or chairs and thus removing the associated fall hazards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The gearbox acts as a mechanical intermediary that decouples the operator from the high-positioned awning shaft. The operator interacts with the crank handle at ground level, and the gearbox transmits this motion to the shaft at elevation, allowing operation without physical proximity to the dangerous height.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If the awning shaft weight is increased for structural strength, then the durability is improved, but the ease of manual rolling up deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidease of rolling up

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Direct manual rotation of the heavy shaft is replaced with a gear-based mechanical advantage system. The gearbox contains multiple gears that provide torque multiplication, allowing a user to rotate a heavy, structurally strong shaft by applying much smaller forces through the crank handle. The gear ratios are designed to convert small input torque into sufficient output torque to overcome the shaft's weight and inertia.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables effortless and safe rolling up of the awning without the need for manual climbing, reducing the risk of accidents and making it accessible for users of all ages by distributing the weight and torque effectively.

Implementation Method 1

The gearbox can be designed as a deflection gearbox and a worm gear gearbox

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWorm gear: Worm Drive

Implementation Method 2

a planetary gear, with the electric motor connected in series with the planetary gear set, which has at least one planetary gear stage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlanetary gear: Epicyclic Gearing

Implementation Method 3

One of the supports can be connected to the gearbox housing to absorb the torque generated when the crank handle is operated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorque absorption: Torque

Data Source

PatentEP2966237B1Rollable bag awning

Publication Date: 2020.04.22 GOMOLUCH MATTHIAS

Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a rollable bag awning (2) with an awning shaft (10) arranged at the end, wherein the awning shaft (10) has a device (20, 40) for rolling up the fabric panel (7) of the awning on at least one end face.