Spike Setting Gun Positioning Mechanism Orthogonal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing positioning mechanisms for spike setting guns on pneumatic vehicle tires fail to align the main axis of the spike setting gun perpendicular to the tire surface consistently, leading to tilted spikes and varying protrusion due to uneven friction, which affects setting depth and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A positioning mechanism that allows stepless perpendicular alignment of the spike setting gun to the tire surface at a defined angle, using servomotors and kinematics with adjustable pivot angles, ensuring optimal alignment and minimizing moving mass to maintain cycle time, with horizontal carriages on linear guides for compact construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the spike-setting gun is positioned with two degrees of freedom (parallel and perpendicular to tire axis) to adapt to tire diameter and setting depth, then positioning flexibility is improved, but the main axis of the spike-setting gun cannot be aligned perpendicular to the tire surface during all setting operations, leading to tilted spikes and varying protrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third degree of freedom by adding a swivel joint that enables the spike-setting gun to rotate around its own axis. This additional rotational dimension allows the main axis of the gun to be aligned perpendicular to the tire surface at all positions, resolving the alignment precision issue while preserving the adaptability provided by the original two degrees of freedom for positioning parallel and perpendicular to the tire axis.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the spike-setting gun is positioned transversely to the tread along a curved path approximating the outer contour of the tire surface, then adaptability to tire shape is improved, but orthogonality of the main axis to the tire surface cannot be maintained during all setting operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a swivel joint with adjustable angle that allows the spike-setting gun to dynamically adapt its orientation. As the gun moves along the curved path approximating the tire's outer contour, the swivel joint enables real-time adjustment of the gun's angle to maintain perpendicular alignment with the tire surface at each position, thus preserving both shape adaptability and orthogonality alignment.
3Manufacturing precision
If the moving mass of the positioning system is increased to provide additional degree of freedom for angular adjustment, then alignment precision is improved, but cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the positioning system into modular components: horizontal slides for radial and axial positioning, a vertical slide for depth adjustment, and a swivel joint for angular orientation. Each component is independently actuated by its own drive mechanism, allowing simultaneous and independent adjustment of position and angle. This segmentation enables the system to achieve precise alignment without requiring a single heavy moving mass, thus maintaining cycle time while improving alignment precision.
4Manufacturing precision
If a complex positioning mechanism with multiple degrees of freedom is used to achieve perpendicular alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the swivel joint directly into the vertical slide assembly, combining the functions of vertical positioning and angular orientation into a single integrated mechanism. The swivel joint's rotational axis is aligned with the spike-setting gun's main axis, allowing angular adjustment to occur at the same location where vertical positioning is performed. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall mechanism while maintaining the ability to achieve perpendicular alignment.
Data Source
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AI summary
Electronically controlled positioning mechanism (1) for positioning a spike-setting gun (2) relative to the surface of a vehicle tire (5) to be spiked, comprising: - a first prismatic joint (11) which enables the movement of a first horizontal slide (8) relative to a base (7); - a second prismatic joint (12) which, parallel to the movement of the first horizontal slide (8), enables the movement of a second horizontal slide (9) relative to the base (7); - at least one further prismatic joint (13, 13') which, transverse to the direction of movement of the horizontal slides (8, 9), enables the movement of a vertical slide (10) relative to the two horizontal slides (8, 9); - two rotary joints (14, 15) which enable an angular movement of the vertical slide (10) relative to the horizontal slides (8, 9); - wherein the spike-setting gun (2) is arranged on the vertical slide (10) in such a manner.that their main axis extending in the spike-setting direction is oriented parallel to the guide direction of at least one further prismatic joint (13, 13'), and wherein the joints can each be actuated by means of a drive (M1, M2, M3).