Swinging Chute Linkage Assembly for Transit Concrete Mixers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing concrete chute systems in transit vehicles experience rapid wear and tear due to twisting forces during deployment and retraction, leading to high maintenance costs and downtime, as traditional single eyelet hinge designs inefficiently transfer actuation energy and concentrate stress at the rotational axis.
Innovation Solution
A multi-component linkage assembly with a stabilizing clevis design, including a primary mounting bracket, arcuate lever, arcuate clevis linkage, and secondary mounting bracket, provides multiple pivot points to distribute forces evenly and prevent tangential rotation, creating a stronger and more stable joint that efficiently transfers actuation energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional single eyelet hinge design is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability deteriorates due to rapid wear and tear from twisting forces
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is segmented into multiple components: a first linkage element, a second linkage element, a first pivot pin, a second pivot pin, and a stabilizing clevis. This segmentation distributes the twisting forces across multiple connection points and components, preventing concentration of stress at a single rotational axis and thereby reducing wear and tear while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing clevis acts as an intermediary element between the first and second linkage elements. It provides a stabilizing effect by preventing tangential rotation and twisting forces from being transmitted through the pivot pins, thereby protecting the hinge components from excessive wear while maintaining the necessary rotational movement for chute deployment.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single eyelet hinge design is used, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the maintenance cost increases due to excessive wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the hinge into multiple linkage elements and pivot pins, the design distributes mechanical stresses across multiple components. This segmentation prevents any single component from failing due to excessive wear, thereby reducing maintenance frequency and costs while remaining manufacturable using standard fabrication processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing clevis provides beforehand cushioning by preemptively preventing twisting forces from concentrating on the pivot pins. This stabilizing effect reduces wear on all hinge components before failure can occur, extending the service life of the hinge assembly and reducing the need for frequent repairs.
3Force
If actuator force is delivered through a single pivot axis, then the force transfer is direct, but twisting forces cause excessive stress on hinge components
Solution Approach 1:
The force transfer path is segmented into multiple linkage elements connected by pivot pins. The actuator force is distributed across these multiple connection points rather than being concentrated at a single pivot axis. This segmentation maintains efficient force transfer for chute deployment while distributing the mechanical stress to prevent excessive wear on individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing clevis serves as an intermediary that modifies the force transmission path. It prevents direct transmission of twisting forces through the pivot pins by providing lateral support and stabilizing the linkage elements. This allows efficient actuator force transfer for deployment while protecting the hinge components from excessive stress through the stabilizing clevis's mediating effect.
Data Source
AI summary
The hinge assembly of the present invention is a novel configuration that utilizes multiple arcuate shaped clevis elements. The configuration produces a compact, stable, and efficient means for transmitting an actuation force to retract or deploy one or more sections of a folding chute assembly utilized on transit concrete mixing vehicles.