Adjustable Support Arm With Dynamic Spring Counterbalance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adjustable support arms using gas cylinders are prone to failure and leakage, while mechanical springs suffer from non-linear characteristics leading to sagging or creeping effects and potential fatigue, and both methods require additional frictional forces for load offset.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable support arm incorporating an elastomeric member, such as a spring, dynamically attached to a linkage, which varies its support force with the arm's position to match downward torque and prevent over-extension, maintaining a near-constant force and reducing spring fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gas cylinders are used to counterbalance the weight of an attached object, then the support arm can provide stable support, but the device becomes heavy, bulky, and prone to failure and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the gas cylinder mechanical system with an elastomeric member (such as a spring) that provides counterbalancing force through elastic deformation. This substitution eliminates the heavy, bulky gas cylinder while maintaining the support function, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
2Device complexity
If mechanical springs are used instead of gas cylinders, then the support arm becomes lighter and more compact, but the spring can be extended beyond its tolerance range causing non-linear characteristics and sagging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the spring attachment point dynamic rather than fixed. The attachment point moves along the support arm as the arm rotates, automatically adjusting the spring's effective length and stiffness to maintain linear characteristics throughout the full range of motion. This prevents over-extension and sagging while keeping the device lightweight.
3Device complexity
If the spring attachment point is fixed, then the structure is simple, but the spring experiences over-extension at extreme positions causing fatigue and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment point is designed to move dynamically along the support arm based on the arm's position. At extreme positions, the attachment point shifts to reduce the spring's extension, preventing over-extension fatigue. This dynamic adjustment extends spring lifespan without adding complex mechanical structures.
4Reliability
If frictional forces are used to supplement counterbalancing force, then the load can be offset throughout the range of motion, but additional frictional forces are required which may cause creeping or sticking effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces friction-based load offset mechanisms with a dynamically adjusted elastomeric member system. The moving attachment point allows the spring to provide consistent counterbalancing force throughout the range of motion without relying on friction, eliminating creeping and sticking effects while maintaining smooth 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
The elastomeric member provides a consistent counterbalancing force throughout the support arm's range of motion, reducing the likelihood of spring deformation and maintaining stability without the need for excessive frictional forces.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric member, which can be a spring
Implementation Method 2
an elastomeric member positioned between the upper arm and the lower arm
Implementation Method 3
an elastomeric member positioned between the upper arm and the lower arm. The elastomeric member can have a length that expands or contracts
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable support arm utilizing an elastomeric member having a dynamic attachment point to support the weight of an attached object. The adjustable support arm can include a lower bracket that is connected to an upper bracket by an upper arm and a lower arm. The elastomeric member counterbalances the weight of an attached object. The first end of the elastomeric member can be attached to a linkage, which can include a first, second, and third link and the second end of the elastomeric member can be attached to one of the arms. The links can be coupled to each other between the upper and lower arms such that the linkage is dynamically moveable upon movement of the support arm.