Synchronizing Shaft Locking Structure to Prevent Transport Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Movable furniture parts with torque-transmitting shafts often experience unintended disengagement during transportation due to the weight and mass inertia of the rod-shaped components, leading to instability and potential detachment from the connecting portions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of an arresting portion that securely connects the rod-shaped component to the connecting portion, preventing autonomous release, which can be easily fitted and removed without tools, and is preferably made of plastic or a clip-like configuration for quick assembly and reusability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rod-shaped component is held together with the connecting portion by a spring, then the connecting device allows for resilient connection and movement, but the rod-shaped component can sag downwardly due to its own weight and mass inertia and become detached from the connecting portion during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The arresting portion is designed to preemptively counteract the harmful effect of the rod-shaped component sagging and detaching during transportation. By providing a mechanical stop that engages with the connecting portion before disengagement can occur, the arresting portion prevents the unintended release that would otherwise happen under gravitational and inertial forces during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The arresting portion acts as an intermediary element between the rod-shaped component and the connecting portion. It provides an additional mechanical interface that mediates the connection, preventing direct detachment while allowing the spring to maintain resilient connection during normal operation. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by adding a protective function without interfering with the primary spring-based connection.
2Reliability
If an arresting portion is added to prevent unintended disengagement, then transport security and connection stability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arresting portion is merged with either the rod-shaped component or the connecting portion, forming an integrated structure rather than a separate assembly. This combining approach allows the arresting function to be added while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity, as the arresting portion becomes part of the existing components rather than adding a completely separate mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The arresting portion is designed to be self-activating, automatically engaging with the connecting portion without requiring external actuation or complex control mechanisms. The structure itself provides the arresting function through its geometry and positioning, allowing the component to secure itself during transportation without adding complex active control systems.
3Length of moving object
If the rod-shaped component is made longer to span between connecting portions, then the functional range is improved, but the risk of sagging and detachment due to weight and mass inertia increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arresting portion provides preliminary anti-action against the increased risk of detachment that comes with longer rod-shaped components. By engaging the connecting portion before sagging can occur, the arresting portion counteracts the heightened risk presented by the increased weight and mass inertia of longer components, allowing extended reach without proportionally increased detachment risk.
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 arresting portion ensures stable connection and prevents unintended disengagement during transportation while allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, maintaining functionality after installation and enabling multiple uses.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring which resiliently holds the rod-shaped component together with the connecting portion
Data Source
AI summary
A movably mounted furniture part includes a torque-transmitting shaft, especially a synchronizing rod. The shaft has at least two sub-shafts, one sub-shaft being a rod-type component and the other sub-shaft being a connecting part. A connecting device connects the rod-type component to the connecting part, and can include at least one spring that resiliently holds the rod-type component and the connecting part together. A locking part is formed on the rod-type component and/or on the connecting part and/or can be mounted thereon, with the locking part securing the rod-type component and the connecting part against detachment.