Spare Wheel Lifter with Interfering Indented Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for raising and lowering spare wheels in vehicles, especially those with large and heavy wheels, are prone to unintentional lowering due to vibrations, posing safety risks as they may come out of their housing.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a rotatable element with corrugated surfaces that interfere with each other to prevent unintentional rotation, requiring additional force to rotate and thus secure the spare wheel, combined with a transmission system and clutch to manage torque and prevent excessive stress on the lifting mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a manually operated actuation device with flexible cable is used to raise and lower the spare wheel, then the device can be simple in structure, but the spare wheel may unintentionally lower due to vibrations during driving
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating a locking mechanism that proactively prevents the unwanted lowering of the spare wheel before vibrations can cause it to drop out of its housing. The locking system engages to counteract the vibrational forces that would otherwise lead to position instability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a locking mechanism as an intermediary element between the manually operated actuation device and the spare wheel. This intermediary component mediates the force transmission, allowing the simple cable-operated system to function while preventing the harmful effect of vibration-induced lowering.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent unintentional lowering, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to operate automatically based on the position of the spare wheel, requiring minimal additional control components. The system self-regulates by engaging or disengaging the lock based on whether the wheel is in the raised or lowered position, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the locking function with the existing manually operated actuation mechanism, integrating the safety feature into the current structure rather than adding a completely separate system. This combination approach improves reliability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the rotatable element rotates freely to allow easy wheel adjustment, then the ease of operation improves, but the wheel may rotate unintentionally due to vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by creating a rotatable element that can freely rotate during intentional operation but automatically locks when vibrations occur. The system transitions between a free-state during manual adjustment and a locked-state during vehicle operation, dynamically adapting to the operational context to balance ease of operation with position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism operates periodically, engaging during vehicle operation to prevent vibration-induced rotation and disengaging during intentional adjustment operations. This periodic locking and unlocking cycle allows the system to maintain stability during normal operation while remaining easily adjustable when needed.
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 device effectively prevents the spare wheel from being lowered unintentionally due to vehicle vibrations, ensuring safety by requiring deliberate action to raise or lower the wheel and reducing mechanical stress on the lifting mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second indented surfaces 10, 12 are configured to mutually interfere, in order to hinder the rotation of rotatable element 8 relative to body 2
Data Source
AI summary
A device for raising and lowering a spare wheel of a vehicle includes a body to be mounted to the vehicle in a fixed position. The body includes a first indented surface defining an aperture, A lifter mechanism for raising and lowering the spare wheel includes a rotatable element capable of rotating relative to the body. The rotatable element is at least partly housed in the aperture and has a second indented surface. The first and second indented surfaces are configured to mutually interfere, in order to hinder the rotation of the rotatable element relative to the body.