Sleeve Freewheel for Vehicle Armrest Inclination Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatus for continuous inclination adjustment of vehicle components, such as armrests, have complex designs that are not space-efficient, despite being able to withstand high loads.
Innovation Solution
A compact and space-saving design utilizing a sleeve freewheel device, a coupling device for coupling and uncoupling the sleeve freewheel device, and a control device to actuate the coupling device, allowing for continuous inclination adjustment and automatic release when a pre-set angle is reached or exceeded, enabling the component to return to its starting position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a self-locking gear mechanism with primary and secondary parts is used to lock various angles of inclination, then the apparatus can withstand high loads and lock different angles, but the design becomes relatively complicated and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the locking function from a complex gear mechanism and implements it through a simplified sleeve freewheel device that couples the armrest to the adjustment mechanism. This separation allows the locking function to be achieved with fewer components while maintaining reliability under high loads.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex gear mechanism to achieve locking, the patent inverts the approach by using a sleeve freewheel device that naturally locks in one direction while allowing free movement in the other direction. This inversion simplifies the overall mechanism while maintaining the required locking reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a self-locking gear mechanism with multiple parts is used for inclination adjustment, then the apparatus can lock various angles, but the radial extension and overall size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the sleeve freewheel device within the existing adjustment mechanism structure, allowing the locking components to be contained within the radial space already required for the adjustment mechanism itself. This nesting approach enables angle locking capability without increasing the overall radial extension of the armrest assembly.
3Ease of operation
If a control device with multiple control paths and cams is used to actuate the coupling, then the locking can be discontinued at specific positions, but the design becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a control device that automatically actuates the coupling based on the armrest position, eliminating the need for complex manual control mechanisms. The system serves itself by using the armrest's own movement to trigger the release at predetermined positions, thereby achieving ease of operation without increasing control device complexity.
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 provides a simpler, more compact design that effectively locks various angles of inclination and automatically releases to return the component to its starting position, reducing structural complexity and enhancing operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one compression spring presses the sets of spur gears of the primary part and the secondary part against each other
Implementation Method 2
sleeve freewheel device for setting the continuous inclination
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus for continuous inclination adjustment of a component part of a vehicle, in particular a pivotable vehicle armrest, pivotable about a pivot axle. The apparatus is configured to lock various angles of inclination in a first pivoting direction and unlock them when a pre-settable angle of inclination is reached and/or exceeded. This allows the pivotable component part of the vehicle to be moved back into a starting position contrary to the first pivoting direction. The continuous inclination adjustment apparatus has a sleeve freewheel device for setting the continuous inclination, a coupling device for coupling and uncoupling the sleeve freewheel device and a control device for actuating the coupling device.