Telescoping Shaft Friction Lock Release With Guided Axial Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telescoping shafts with friction locks are difficult to release efficiently, often requiring a sharp axial blow to the end of the shaft, which can be unsafe and inaccurate.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism that includes a rod with an object attached to its end, which is positioned within the last tubular member of the telescoping shaft. The rod is kept in a retracted position by a spring and a stop, allowing for a controlled axial impact when the rod is released, effectively unlocking the friction locks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sharp axial blow is applied to the end of the shaft to release friction locks, then the friction locks are unlocked, but the operation becomes unsafe and inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
A rod with a strike mass is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the friction lock. The rod transmits the releasing force internally through the shaft, eliminating the need for external sharp blows. The strike mass at the distal end of the rod delivers a controlled impact to the friction lock components, providing a safe and accurate release mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod is pre-positioned within the endmost tubular member with the strike mass ready at the distal end. A spring mechanism pre-loads the rod in a retracted position, so that upon activation, the rod is already prepared to deliver the impact force needed to release the friction lock, eliminating the need for unpredictable external blows.
2Productivity
If external force is applied to unlock friction locks, then the locks are released, but control and precision are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The rod serves as a precision intermediary that guides the strike mass along the longitudinal axis of the shaft. This ensures the impact force is applied exactly where needed on the friction lock components, providing both efficiency in lock release and precision in impact location that cannot be achieved with external blows.
Solution Approach 2:
The strike mass is concentrated at the distal end of the rod, creating a localized high-force impact point. This concentrates the releasing force exactly where it is needed to disengage the friction lock components, improving both the efficiency of lock release and the precision of force application.
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
This mechanism allows for a controlled and accurate release of friction locks in telescoping shafts, eliminating the need for a sharp axial blow and enhancing user safety and precision.
Implementation Method 1
a tension spring between the distal end and the proximal end of the rod. When the rod is moved from a retracted position to an extended position, the stop engages with a portion of the endmost member and the tension spring stretches such that upon release, the rod moves into the endmost member to the retracted position causing the object to strike the endmost member
Implementation Method 2
a compression spring between the distal end and a proximal end of the rod. When the rod is moved from a retracted position to an extended position, the compression spring engages with a portion of the endmost member such that upon release, the rod moves into the endmost member to the retracted position causing the object to strike the endmost member
Implementation Method 3
the object strikes the endmost member with sufficient force to unlock the plurality of friction locks
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism for releasing friction locks of a telescoping shaft, in which the locks are formed by swaged outer ends of each preceding member of the shaft and flared inner ends of each following member provides a guided axial impact to the end member of the shaft. This mechanism for releasing friction locks in telescoping shafts allows the release of the locks to be more comfortably and accurately accomplished for users than by striking an end of the shaft against a hard surface, such as a concrete wall or pavement.