Vehicle Stanchion Toggle Lever Over-Center Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stanchions for vehicle bodies face issues with operational reliability due to unintentional pivoting back during extreme driving conditions and exposure to dynamic forces, leading to potential material failure and impaired functionality.

Innovation Solution

The profile bar is supported from above against the toggle joint of the overstretched toggle lever arrangement, with the second lever arm not transmitting supporting forces, and a positive fit is used to secure the toggle joint, reducing the number of dynamically loaded components and enhancing operational safety through over-center protection and form-fitting elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the toggle lever arrangement is overstretched to secure against unintentional pivoting back, then the stanchion locking reliability is improved, but the components are exposed to considerable dynamic forces leading to material failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestanchion locking reliabilityVSAvoidcomponent strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the force transmission function from the second lever arm and toggle joint by introducing a support element that directly connects the first lever arm to the profile bar. This removes the second lever arm and toggle joint from the power flow, eliminating their exposure to dynamic forces while maintaining the over-center locking mechanism's reliability function through the support element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the force transmission path by introducing a dedicated support element separate from the toggle lever arrangement. This separates the locking function (performed by the over-center mechanism) from the force transmission function (performed by the support element), allowing the locking mechanism to remain reliable while protecting components from excessive dynamic forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If both lever arms and joints are exposed to dynamic forces during driving, then the toggle lever arrangement can maintain its position, but the operational safety is impaired due to material failure risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetoggle lever position stabilityVSAvoidoperational safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the stability-maintaining function from the force-loaded toggle joint by introducing a support element that carries the vertical forces. The toggle joint then only needs to maintain positional stability without bearing dynamic loads, significantly improving operational safety while preserving position stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the functional responsibilities by assigning force bearing to the support element and position maintenance to the toggle joint. This separation allows the toggle joint to perform its positioning function without being compromised by dynamic forces, enhancing both stability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the toggle lever arrangement is used for both locking and force transmission, then the device complexity is reduced, but the operational reliability deteriorates under extreme driving conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidoperational reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the device into distinct functional components: the toggle lever arrangement for locking and the support element for force transmission. This segmentation increases structural complexity slightly but dramatically improves operational reliability by protecting the locking mechanism from excessive dynamic forces during extreme driving conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the force transmission function from the toggle lever arrangement and assigns it to a dedicated support element. This extraction protects the locking mechanism from being overloaded during extreme driving, improving reliability while maintaining reasonable device complexity through the use of a simple support structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This configuration improves operational reliability by reducing the risk of material breakage and joint wear, ensuring secure locking of the stanchion even under severe conditions, and simplifies the construction and ease of use by providing automatic and user-friendly locking mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

the profile bar (9) is supported from above against the toggle joint (13) of the overstretched toggle lever arrangement (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical support:

Implementation Method 2

a positive fit is used to secure the toggle joint

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForm fit: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 3

the toggle lever arrangement is overstretched from an angled starting position to beyond the so-called dead center position, in which the two lever arms enclose an angle of 180°

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOver-center mechanism: Geometry

Data Source

PatentEP1953068B1Post for vehicle superstructures
Publication Date: 2010.04.21 F HESTERBERG & SOHNE
  • EP1953068B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2c
  • EP1953068B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP1953068B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Upright comprises a toggle lever arrangement (10) having a toggle joint (13) which is secured from swinging back via a form closure (30) on a profile rod (9). Preferred Features: The profile rod is supported from above against the toggle joint. A lever arm (11) with an operating lever (14) is also provided.