Wall-Mounted Slide-Out Drive Mechanism for Flush Floor Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rack-and-pinion drive mechanisms in recreational vehicles face issues such as gear rack skewing, disengagement, limited load capacity, and inability to maintain a flush floor configuration, leading to shifting and potential damage during vehicle movement.
Innovation Solution
A drive assembly with a movable pinion and rack system that allows the slide-out room to move in a drive direction while also being transversely movable, supported by a drive support that engages the rack to prevent disengagement and includes a prime mover with a speed reducer to inhibit unintentional movement, enabling the room to descend for a flush floor configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a rack-and-pinion drive mechanism is used with wall-mounted gear racks, then the mechanism is aesthetically pleasing and components are relatively inconspicuous, but the gear racks may disengage from pinions due to manufacturing tolerances causing skewing
Solution Approach 1:
The pinion mounting bracket is made movable in the transverse direction, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to maintain engagement between the pinion and gear rack despite manufacturing skewing. This dynamic adjustment prevents disengagement while preserving the aesthetic wall-mounted configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the pinion mounting bracket in the transverse direction to compensate for skewing caused by manufacturing tolerances. This parameter adjustment ensures continuous engagement between the pinion and gear rack.
2Reliability
If a pinion mounting bracket with transverse movement capability is provided to maintain engagement, then gear rack disengagement is prevented, but the bracket and slide-out room may shift and strike the support channel during vehicle movement
Solution Approach 1:
A stop mechanism is provided that preliminarily prevents the pinion mounting bracket from moving too far in the transverse direction. This stop mechanism includes a stop surface that limits the movement of the bracket, preventing it from striking the support channel during vehicle acceleration or braking.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop mechanism acts as a protective measure that is already in place before any harmful impact can occur. The stop surface provides a predetermined limit that cushions against excessive movement and prevents damage to the drive mechanism.
3Volume of moving object
If small support components are used within the aperture due to limited space, then the mechanism remains compact, but the load capacity is limited to relatively small and light slide-out rooms
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure extends in the transverse direction rather than only in the drive direction, utilizing the available three-dimensional space more effectively. This allows the support components to be distributed across multiple dimensions, increasing load capacity while maintaining a compact overall footprint within the aperture.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into multiple segments including the drive support, pinion mounting bracket, and stop mechanism. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed across multiple components rather than concentrated on a single small support, thereby increasing the overall load capacity of the compact mechanism.
4Device complexity
If the slide-out room is constrained to horizontal movement only, then the drive mechanism is simpler, but the room cannot achieve a flush floor configuration with the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from purely horizontal movement to dynamic multi-directional movement by allowing the slide-out room to move both horizontally (in the drive direction) and vertically (in the elevation direction). This dynamic capability enables the flush floor configuration while using the existing rack-and-pinion mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack-and-pinion drive mechanism is made multi-functional by enabling it to control both horizontal positioning and vertical elevation of the slide-out room. This universal mechanism replaces the need for separate drive systems for horizontal and vertical movement.
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 effectively addresses the issues of gear rack skewing and load capacity limitations, allowing for stable and quiet operation while enabling a flush floor configuration, reducing the risk of damage and enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
rack-and-pinion drive mechanisms
Implementation Method 2
a prime mover with a speed reducer to inhibit unintentional movement
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for moving a slide-out room disposed in an aperture of a side wall of a vehicle from a retracted position to an extended position in a drive direction. The apparatus includes a drive assembly supported by the side wall of the vehicle and a driven assembly driven by the drive assembly. The driven assembly is connected to a wall of the slide-out room such that the slide-out room moves with the driven assembly from the retracted position to the extended position in the drive direction and the driven assembly is movable in a transverse direction generally perpendicular to the drive direction relative to the wall of the slide-out room.