Spindle Drive With Ball Socket For Curved Path Movement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional spindle drives are not suited for moving objects along curved paths, such as rear sliding windows in pickup trucks, as they can only facilitate straight linear movement due to the nature of a rotating threaded spindle.
Innovation Solution
A spindle drive assembly that includes a threaded spindle, a threaded spindle nut, a ball stud, an attachment plate, and a ball socket with an oblong cavity to accommodate varying angles and distances, allowing for movement along a curved path, secured by an omega clip and featuring a spindle housing with a closable cut-out for attaching the ball socket to the ball stud, and an electric motor connected via a torsion cable for rotational movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional rotating threaded spindle is used, then straight linear movement is achieved, but curved path movement is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle nut is segmented into two functional parts: a threaded portion that engages with the spindle for linear motion conversion, and a spherical portion that articulates within the ball socket to accommodate angular variations. This segmentation allows the mechanism to handle both linear and curved motion requirements independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball socket incorporates a spherical cavity with non-uniform dimensions (larger equatorial diameter than polar diameter) to receive and articulate the spherical portion of the spindle nut. This spheroidal geometry enables angular accommodation while maintaining constrained motion along the curved path.
2Ease of manufacture
If the ball socket cavity has equal diameters in all directions, then manufacturing is simplified, but varying distances between attachment plate and ball stud cannot be compensated
Solution Approach 1:
The ball socket cavity exhibits local quality variations through its non-uniform dimensions: the equatorial diameter is intentionally made larger than the polar diameter. This local dimensional differentiation allows the cavity to accommodate both radial and axial variations in distance between the attachment plate and ball stud, while remaining manufacturable as a single molded or machined component.
3Ease of operation
If the spindle nut is freely rotatable on the spindle, then rotation is unrestricted, but precise linear positioning is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle nut merges two functional elements: the threaded engagement portion that converts rotational motion to linear displacement, and the spherical portion that provides rotational freedom while maintaining linear positioning. The threaded portion ensures precise linear positioning through its engagement with the spindle threads, while the spherical portion allows the necessary rotation to accommodate curved path 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
Enables the spindle drive to effectively move objects along curved paths by compensating for changes in distance and angle, providing two degrees of freedom and accommodating curved slide rails, thus addressing the limitations of traditional spindle drives.
Implementation Method 1
a threaded spindle rotatable about a spindle axis; a threaded spindle nut disposed on the threaded spindle and configured to travel along the spindle axis via a rotation of the spindle
Implementation Method 2
a ball stud attached to the spindle nut, the ball stud extending radially away from the spindle nut; and a ball socket connected to the attachment plate and having a cavity dimensioned for receiving the ball stud
Data Source
AI summary
A spindle drive assembly includes a threaded spindle rotatable about a spindle axis; a threaded spindle nut disposed on the threaded spindle and configured to travel along the spindle axis via a rotation of the spindle; a ball stud attached to the spindle nut, the ball stud extending radially away from the spindle nut; an attachment plate configured to be attached to a part to be moved; and a ball socket connected to the attachment plate and having a cavity dimensioned for receiving the ball stud. The cavity of the ball socket has a first diameter in a direction perpendicular to the spindle axis and a second diameter parallel to the spindle axis, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.