Steering Clamp Cam Structure for Low-Effort Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing steering system requires excessive physical effort to lock the steering member due to interference between the clamping shaft and the housing, making the clamping operation cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A steering system design featuring a clamping member with a fixed cam, rotary cam, and clamping lever that reduces the diameter of the housing's retaining hole through a clamping slit, allowing the clamping shaft to align axes only when clamping, minimizing interference and effort required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the diameter of the housing part is reduced to enable clamping, then the clamping force is improved, but the interference between the clamping shaft and housing increases causing excessive physical effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the housing part movable rather than fixed. The housing part can move in the radial direction to expand or contract the clamping slit width. During clamping operation, the housing part moves radially outward to increase the slit width, eliminating interference with the clamping shaft while still providing sufficient clamping force when closed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the housing part's position in the radial direction. By moving the housing part between a retracted position (during operation) and a clamped position (during locking), the system dynamically adjusts the effective diameter and slit width to resolve the contradiction between clamping force and ease of operation
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 design reduces the physical effort needed to clamp the steering member, preventing heavy effort requirements and ensuring stable clamping without interference, thus enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The clamping member includes a fixed cam, a clamping shaft, a rotary cam, and a clamping lever. The fixed cam is fitted in the first clamp-receiving portion from an outer side of the first clamp-receiving portion. The rotary cam is configured to relatively move away from or toward the fixed cam as the rotary cam rotates relative to the fixed cam.
Implementation Method 2
The clamping member includes a fixed cam, a clamping shaft, a rotary cam, and a clamping lever. The clamping lever is connected to the rotary cam.
Implementation Method 3
The rotary cam is configured to relatively move away from or toward the fixed cam as the rotary cam rotates relative to the fixed cam
Data Source
AI summary
A steering system includes a rod member, a housing, and a clamping member. The housing has a clamping slit and includes a first clamp-receiving portion and a second clamp-receiving portion that project so as to sandwich the clamping slit therebetween. The clamping member includes a fixed cam, a clamping shaft, a rotary cam, and a clamping lever. The fixed cam is fitted in the first clamp-receiving portion from an outer side of the first clamp-receiving portion. The fixed cam has a third through hole extending through the fixed cam coaxially with a first axis. The third through hole has a small diameter portion at a first portion close to the rotary cam and a large diameter portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the small diameter portion at a second portion away from the rotary cam.