Spring Clip Locking Device for Tractor Stabilizer Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical devices with locking mechanisms, such as those in tractor stabilizers, face reliability issues due to the potential loss of spring clips under mechanical stress and vibrations, leading to unintended movement and length changes.
Innovation Solution
A locking device featuring a spring clip that transitions between release and locking positions via its own spring force, with a bearing design that includes bores and form-fitting features to prevent loss, ensuring a secure and defined position, and optional deformation or threading for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a spring clip is held in bores solely by its own resilient preload, then the locking device is simple in structure, but the spring clip can be lost under mechanical stress and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The spring clip is pre-formed with bends and undercuts during manufacturing that create form-fitting engagement with the bearing bores. This preliminary shaping ensures that when the spring clip is installed, it automatically creates mechanical interlocking features that prevent loss under vibration and stress, without adding complex assembly steps or additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring clip combines elastic material properties with geometric form-fitting features. The resilient preload provides continuous contact force while the bent ends and undercuts create mechanical interlocking, combining two retention mechanisms into a single integrated component that prevents loss while maintaining simplicity.
2Reliability
If the spring clip is held securely in the bearing to prevent loss, then operational reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to form-fitting features
Solution Approach 1:
The spring clip has uniform body geometry but features localized bends and undercuts at specific ends. These local geometric modifications create the form-fitting engagement exactly where needed at the bearing interface, while the rest of the spring clip remains simple and unchanged. This localized complexity achieves reliable retention without making the entire device complex.
3Reliability
If the spring clip has form-fitting holding in the bearing, then the spring clip cannot be lost, but the spring clip must be installed in a specific sequence after assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The form-fitting features (bends and undercuts) are pre-formed on the spring clip during manufacturing, creating an interference-fit geometry that requires the bearing bores to be clear and accessible during assembly. This preliminary preparation of the spring clip geometry dictates that assembly must occur after main component assembly, ensuring proper installation sequence without requiring complex assembly tools or procedures.
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 solution significantly enhances operational reliability by preventing accidental detachment of the spring clip, ensuring consistent locking or release positions, and maintaining adjusted lengths in mechanical components like tractor stabilizers.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one spring clip is held in a stable and spring-biased manner in the release position and in the locking position
Implementation Method 2
Due to the spring action of the at least one spring clip and the selected bearing point arrangement, the at least one spring clip is held in a stable and spring-biased manner
Data Source
AI summary
A device (1) has mechanical components (7, 8) that are movable relative to each other. This mobility can be controlled by means of at least one locking device (10). The locking device (10) has at least one spring-loaded bracket (12) which is pivotable between a release position that allows the relative movement of the mechanical components (7, 8) and a locking position that prevents this movement, within at least one bearing (11). The at least one spring-loaded bracket (12) is held in a stable and spring-loaded position in both the release position and the locking position. The at least one spring-loaded bracket (12) passes through bores (14) of the at least one bearing (11). To achieve increased operational reliability, at least one end region (16) of the at least one spring-loaded bracket (12) extends beyond the at least one bearing (11).This at least one end area (16) is undercut and held in the locking position in a form-fitting manner in the at least one bearing (11).