Tapered Quick-Release Plate Locking for Stable Gimbal Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior quick-release mounting structures for photography lack sufficient stability, leading to potential falls of photographic apparatuses from gimbals due to external collisions.
Innovation Solution
A quick connection mechanism featuring a truncated cone quick release plate, a sliding groove in the base, a locking structure with a locking arm and elastic member, and an unlocking structure with an unlocking arm and slider, ensuring secure engagement and easy disengagement of the plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple quick-release mounting structure is used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking arm is designed to dynamically transition between locked and unlocked positions. When the quick release plate is inserted, the locking arm automatically rotates to engage with the clamping groove under elastic force. When the unlocking button is pressed, the locking arm rotates to disengage, enabling quick removal. This dynamic mechanism provides both ease of operation and reliable stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The first elastic member (spring) is pre-loaded to apply continuous elastic force to the locking arm, ensuring it maintains contact with the clamping groove. This beforehand cushioning ensures the locking mechanism is always ready to engage or disengage, providing stable locking during normal operation while enabling quick release when needed.
2Reliability
If a locking structure is added to improve stability, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking structure integrates multiple functions into a compact assembly: the locking arm provides both locking and unlocking functions, the first elastic member provides both the locking force and the reset mechanism, and the unlocking button directly actuates the locking arm. This merging of functions reduces overall complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-actuating during normal operation. When the quick release plate is inserted, the locking arm automatically engages with the clamping groove under elastic force without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems. The system serves itself by using the insertion motion to trigger the locking action.
3Reliability
If the locking arm abuts against the clamping groove wall, then the stability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping groove is designed with a tapered shape rather than a straight cylindrical form. This parameter change in geometry allows the locking arm to engage more easily and maintain stable contact over a range of positions, reducing the sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances while preserving locking reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking arm features a spherical contact surface that abuts against the clamping groove wall. This curved geometry provides a point contact that is more tolerant of manufacturing variations compared to flat surfaces, while still delivering stable locking through the concentrated contact force.
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 mechanism provides enhanced stability and quick assembly/disassembly of the quick release plate, preventing accidental disengagement and ensuring the camera's secure attachment to the gimbal.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic member may be connected to the locking arm, and the first elastic member may be configured to apply, to the locking arm, a force in a direction for locking the quick release plate
Implementation Method 2
one end of the locking arm abuts against an inner side wall of the clamping groove and is configured to enable locking of the quick release plate in the sliding groove by the abutment
Data Source
AI summary
A quick connection mechanism includes a truncated-cone-shaped quick release plate, a base, and a locking structure. A tapered clamping groove is provided in a larger bottom surface of the quick release plate. A sliding groove is provided in the base, and the quick release plate is clamped in the sliding groove. The locking structure is configured to fix the quick release plate that enters the sliding groove. The locking structure includes a rotating shaft, a locking arm rotatably provided on the rotating shaft, and a first elastic member connected to the locking arm and configured to apply, to the locking arm, a force in a direction for locking the quick release plate. One end of the locking arm abuts against an inner side wall of the clamping groove and is configured to enable locking of the quick release plate in the sliding groove by the abutment.