Rotating Spacer Clamp for Simpler Vehicle Carrier Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spacer devices for motor vehicle carrier systems, such as bicycle racks, have complex structures and require separate actuating elements for clamping and releasing, making them cumbersome to operate and assemble.
Innovation Solution
A spacer device with a bearing device allowing the clamping device and spacer element to rotate relative to each other, where the screw gear is connected to the spacer element, enabling manual rotation to displace the clamping device between clamping and release positions, thus eliminating the need for a separate actuating element and simplifying the structure and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate actuating element (handwheel) is used to displace the clamping device, then the clamping device can be effectively positioned, but the structure becomes more complex and operation becomes more cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer element is merged with the actuating function by integrating the helical gear directly onto it. The spacer element serves dual purposes: maintaining the longitudinal distance between fastening and clamping devices, and acting as the actuating element for displacing the clamping device through rotational movement. This eliminates the need for a separate handwheel or actuating mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer element is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a spacing component that establishes the required longitudinal distance and as an actuating element that controls the clamping device's displacement. This universal design reduces the total component count and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining full functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used for spacing and actuation, then each function can be optimized independently, but the quantity of components increases and assembly becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The helical gear is integrated directly onto the spacer element, combining two previously separate components (spacer and actuating mechanism) into a single unified component. This reduces the component count and simplifies assembly operations while maintaining the ability to independently optimize the spacing and actuation functions through the design of the integrated component.
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 solution simplifies the spacer device's structure and operation by integrating the spacer element as both a distance creator and an actuating element, reducing component count and enhancing ergonomic operation, while maintaining effective clamping and release functionality.
Implementation Method 1
an adjusting device with a helical gear, which is operatively connected at one end to the clamping device and by means of which a manual rotary actuation movement acting on the spacer device can be translated into a displacement movement of the clamping device between the clamping and release positions
Implementation Method 2
a bearing device is provided by means of which the clamping device and the spacer element are mounted on one another so as to be rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Spacer device (4) for a carrier system (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising: - a spacer element (5) extending longitudinally along its longitudinal axis (L) between its first end end (6) and its second end end (8); - a fastening device (7) arranged at the first end end (6); - a clamping device (9) arranged at the second end end (8) and designed for clamping onto a carrier profile (2) that can be positioned fixedly on the vehicle; - wherein the clamping device (9) is displaceable relative to the spacer element (5) between a clamping position for clamping onto the carrier profile (2) and a release position for releasing from the carrier profile (2); - and wherein the clamping device (9) comprises at least a first clamping jaw (10) and a second clamping jaw (11) which are pivotable about an axis (12) for displacing the clamping device (9) between the clamping and release positions.13) are pivotably displaceable relative to the spacer element (5), and comprising an actuating device (S) with a screw drive (14, 15) which is operatively connected at one end to the clamping device (9) and by means of which a manual rotary actuating movement acting on the spacer device (4) can be translated into a displacement movement of the clamping device (9) between the clamping and the release position. Furthermore, a bearing device (16) is provided by means of which the clamping device (9) and the spacer element (5) are rotatably mounted relative to each other about the longitudinal axis (L), and the screw drive (14, 15) is operatively connected at the other end to the spacer element (5), whereby a manual rotation of the spacer element (5) about the longitudinal axis (L) causes the displacement movement of the clamping device (9) between the clamping and the release position.