Single-Arm Sling Gear Locking to Prevent Button Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sling gear for remotely controlled grippers, such as those used in submarine vehicles, faces a risk of the push-button for opening the closure mutually blocking with the release button, leading to operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The push-button incorporates a locking area that engages with the closure in the closed position, preventing mutual blocking by disengaging the lock in a release position before moving the closure to the open position, and features a gear section for transmitting movement, ensuring the lock is disengaged before drive movement is initiated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate release button is provided opposite the push-button for opening the closure, then the closure can be opened from either side, but the push-button and release button may mutually block one another
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking area and gear section onto a single push-button component. This merging eliminates the separate release button that caused mutual blocking issues, while maintaining the ability to open the closure from one side. The unified push-button structure prevents the operational interference that occurred between two separate buttons positioned opposite each other.
Solution Approach 2:
The push-button is segmented into distinct functional areas: a locking area that engages with the closure to prevent premature opening, and a gear section that transmits movement to open the closure. This segmentation allows each area to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, eliminating the mutual blocking problem while maintaining reliable operation.
2Device complexity
If the push-button is made accessible from one side only, then the structure is simplified and mutual blocking is avoided, but the gripper's accessibility to the push-button may be limited at certain angles
Solution Approach 1:
The push-button protrudes from the narrow side of the sling gear, extending into a third dimension that makes it accessible from the outside. This dimensional extension allows the single push-button to be reached by the gripper from various angles without requiring buttons on multiple sides of the device, thus simplifying the structure while maintaining accessibility.
3Ease of manufacture
If the locking area and gear section are located on separate components, then each component can be optimized independently, but mutual blocking between components can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The locking area and gear section are merged onto the single push-button component. This combination ensures that when the push-button is actuated, the locking area disengages from the closure first, then the gear section engages to transmit the opening movement. This sequence prevents mutual blocking because the components work in a coordinated manner rather than independently, eliminating the risk of operational interference.
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 design prevents mutual blocking between the push-button and release button, allowing for efficient operation of the gripper with the push-button accessible from one side, enhancing the gripper's ability to securely engage the sling gear at various angles and orientations.
Implementation Method 1
a gear section, which couples the closure with the push-button, by transmitting movement
Implementation Method 2
the push-button contains a locking area, which engages, in the closed position, with the closure, and which locks the closure in the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A sling gear (1) for single-arm operation by a remotely controlled gripper may have a closure (4) that can be moved from a closed position (5) into an open position (82), a sling body (2) that is closed in the closed position (5) of the closure (4) and open in the open position (82), and an push-button (18) for opening the closure (4). The push-button (18) may have a gear section (68), which couples the closure (4) with the push-button (18), by transmitting movement. In order to improve the reliability in operation, also under adverse circumstances, for example in a heavily soiled environment on the seabed, the push-button (18) may be equipped with an locking area (56), which, in the closed position (5), is to be found engaged with the closure (4), and locks the closure (4) in the closed position (5).