Rotary Damper Guide Rail for Uniform Damping on Complex Tracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dampers fail to uniformly maintain damping force at the connection between rectilinear and curvilinear paths in complex tracks, leading to deteriorated operating efficiency and sensitivity of vehicle parts like power outlets and ash trays.
Innovation Solution
A rotary damper with a pinion gear and guide rail system, including an elastic member for tight contact and frictional protrusions to maintain engagement and reduce friction, ensuring consistent damping force across complex tracks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pinion gear and guide rail system is used for complex tracks, then the operating part can be guided along rectilinear and curvilinear paths, but the damping force becomes non-uniform at the connection section between rectilinear and curvilinear paths
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail is made rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the moving path, allowing the engagement section between the pinion gear and guide rail to dynamically adapt to changes in the moving path direction. This dynamic adjustment ensures uniform damping force throughout the complex track, including at connection sections between rectilinear and curvilinear paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail is given rotational freedom about an axis perpendicular to the moving path, adding a rotational degree of freedom to the system. This dimensional change allows the guide rail to orient itself properly at connection sections, maintaining uniform engagement with the pinion gear and consistent damping force.
2Device complexity
If the guide rail is fixed to the operating part case, then the structure is simple, but the guide rail cannot adapt to direction changes in complex tracks
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail is mounted rotatably rather than fixedly, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation as the operating part moves along complex tracks. This rotational mounting enables the guide rail to follow direction changes while maintaining proper engagement with the pinion gear.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail is separated from the operating part case as an independent rotatable component, allowing it to move independently to adapt to track direction changes. This segmentation enables the guide rail to rotate about its mounting axis while the operating part follows the complex track path.
3Device complexity
If the pinion gear and guide rail are allowed to separate, then the structure is simpler, but the damping force becomes non-uniform and engagement is lost at connection sections
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable mounting of the guide rail dynamically maintains engagement between the pinion gear and guide rail throughout the complex track, including at connection sections. The guide rail automatically orients itself to stay engaged with the pinion gear, preventing separation and ensuring uniform damping force.
Solution Approach 2:
By allowing the guide rail to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the moving path, the system gains an additional degree of freedom that enables continuous engagement. This rotational capability ensures the guide rail can adapt to direction changes without losing contact with the pinion gear.
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 rotary damper uniformly controls the operating speed of parts with complex tracks, enhancing efficiency and sensitivity by maintaining consistent damping force throughout the movement.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member for providing an elastic force in the direction in which the guide rail is brought into tight contact with the pinion gear
Implementation Method 2
the guide rail is provided with a frictional protrusion protruding toward the operating part case
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary damper includes an operating part mounted in an interior in a vehicle in such a manner that the operating part can be introduced or withdrawn, an operating part case that guides a path of the operating part, a pinion gear mounted to one side of the operating part and a guide rail rotatably mounted to the operating part case such that the pinion gear can be engaged with the guide rail. Further, a separation preventing protrusion is provided at a portion of the guide rail, where the pinion gear starts to move in a curvilinear form, the separation preventing protrusion configured to support an outside surface of the pinion gear.