Spring Charging Mechanism with Decoupling Claw Clutch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tensioning mechanisms for spring-loaded drives, such as those in circuit breakers, face challenges in efficiently tensioning storage springs and managing load distribution, leading to potential component overload and wear when the spring is tensioned.
Innovation Solution
A clamping gear mechanism featuring a tensioning wheel, intermediate shaft, freewheel, claw clutch, and synchronizing ring, which allows for torque transmission during tensioning and decouples in the tensioned state to prevent force transmission, thereby relieving load on components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the tensioning motor continues to run after the storage spring is tensioned, then the motor can maintain readiness for the next tensioning cycle, but forces are transmitted to the intermediate shaft and components causing load and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the force transmission path by introducing a claw clutch that disconnects the intermediate shaft from the tensioning wheel when the spring is tensioned. This allows the motor to continue running while preventing force transmission to the intermediate shaft, thereby maintaining productivity without compromising component strength
Solution Approach 2:
The claw clutch is designed to dynamically change its engagement state based on the tensioning condition. When the storage spring reaches the tensioned state, the claw clutch automatically disengages, allowing the intermediate shaft to be decoupled from the tensioning wheel while the motor continues to operate, thus adapting the force transmission to the operational phase
2Strength
If the claw clutch decouples the intermediate shaft from the freewheel in the tensioned state, then load on components is reduced, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The claw clutch acts as an intermediary element between the intermediate shaft and the tensioning wheel. It provides a controlled connection/disconnection interface that manages force transmission based on the spring's tensioning state, reducing component load while adding only the necessary complexity for this specific function
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 mechanism effectively tensions the storage spring while preventing unnecessary load on the intermediate shaft and connected components, reducing wear and ensuring efficient operation by decoupling the claw clutch in the tensioned state, allowing the tensioning motor to run without transmitting forces.
Implementation Method 1
the synchronizing ring couples with the second clutch shoe in a form-fitting manner
Implementation Method 2
a spring element which couples the synchronizing ring to the first clutch shoe and presses the synchronizing ring against the second clutch shoe
Implementation Method 3
the synchronizing ring can be rotated around the axis of rotation in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation relative to the second clutch shoe
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a charging mechanism (1) for charging a stored-energy spring of a stored-energy spring mechanism. Said charging mechanism (1) comprises a charging gear (9) coupled to the stored-energy spring, an intermediate shaft (2) coupled to the charging gear (9), an idler gear (4) that can be driven by a charging motor, a freewheel (3) coupled to the idler gear (4), and a dog clutch (20) that couples the freewheel (3) to the intermediate shaft (2) in order to charge the stored-energy spring and uncouples same from the intermediate shaft (2) in the charged state of the stored-energy spring. The dog clutch (20) comprises a first clutch block (12) that is non-rotatably coupled to the intermediate shaft (2), a second clutch block (11) connected to the freewheel (3), and a synchronizer ring (15) that is arranged between the clutch blocks (11, 12) and is non-rotatably coupled to the first clutch block (12). During a rotation relative to the second clutch block (11), the synchronizer ring (15) couples in a form-fitting manner to the second clutch block (11) in a first direction of rotation about the axis of rotation (21).