Stopper Cam Mechanism for Low-Force Protrusion Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing stopper devices require direct manual rotation of a ring, which applies a pushing force to the operator, leading to poor operability during adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A stopper device with a base member, shaft member, rotary member, gear member, and cam mechanism that allows for rotation of the rotary member without ascending or descending, while the gear member ascends and descends to adjust the protrusion amount of the abutting portion, maintaining a fixed position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ring is rotated directly by gripping the collar during operation, then the stopper device can adjust the protrusion amount of the abutting portion, but a pushing force is applied to the operator's hand, resulting in poor operability
Solution Approach 1:
A cam mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the rotary member and the shaft member. When the rotary member rotates, the cam mechanism converts this rotational motion into ascending motion of the gear member, which in turn ascends the shaft member. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the direct pushing force on the operator's hand while achieving the desired adjustment of the abutting portion protrusion amount.
Solution Approach 2:
The direct mechanical rotation of the ring that applied pushing force is replaced with a cam-based mechanical system. The cam mechanism substitutes the simple rotational motion with a more complex motion transformation system that separates the operator's input (rotation) from the output (ascending motion), thereby eliminating the harmful pushing force while maintaining the adjustment function.
2Volume of moving object
If the gear member is integrated within the rotary member, then the device size is reduced, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The gear member is nested within the rotary member, with the gear member's outer peripheral surface positioned inside the inner peripheral surface of the rotary member. This nesting arrangement allows both components to occupy the same spatial envelope, significantly reducing the overall device volume while managing the structural complexity through hierarchical integration of functional elements.
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
Improves operability by eliminating extra force application during rotation, allows for precise adjustment of the protrusion amount, and reduces device size by integrating the gear member within the rotary member.
Implementation Method 1
a cam mechanism disposed between the base member and the gear member, including a cam slope and a cam abutting portion configured to abut on the cam slope, and configured to cause the gear member to ascend by rotation of the rotary member in a predetermined direction
Data Source
AI summary
A stopper device includes: a base member; a shaft member; a rotary member; a gear member disposed inside the rotary member; a temporary fixing portion configured to temporarily fix the gear member to the shaft member; and a cam mechanism including a cam slope and a cam abutting portion. When the gear member rotates in conjunction with a rotation of the rotary member, the shaft member is ascended by the cam mechanism. The gear member further includes a permanent fixing portion configured to restrict an ascending and descending motion of the shaft member in an ascended state.