Tie-down Device Speed-Increasing Gearbox for Automatic Winding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tie-down devices are either slow in winding straps due to cumbersome mechanisms or heavy and expensive due to large coil springs required for automatic winding.
Innovation Solution
A tie-down device incorporating a frame, a reeling unit, a driving unit, and a speed-increasing gearbox that allows for efficient winding of straps using a small and lightweight coil spring or motor, with a gearbox design that enables rapid strap winding by meshing gears to reduce the rotational effort needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a large diameter coil spring is used for automatic winding, then the strap can be wound automatically, but the device becomes heavy and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
A speed-increasing gearbox is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the driving unit and the reel. The gearbox amplifies the rotational speed and reduces the torque requirement, allowing a small-diameter coil spring to achieve automatic winding capability that would otherwise require a large-diameter spring. This resolves the contradiction by enabling automatic winding while maintaining light weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the mechanical parameters of the system by introducing a speed-increasing gearbox with specific gear ratios. This transforms the relationship between the driving force and the reel rotation, allowing the same winding function to be achieved with a much smaller coil spring, thereby reducing device weight while maintaining automatic operation.
2Device complexity
If manual winding is used, then the device structure is simple, but the winding process is troublesome and slow
Solution Approach 1:
The coil spring serves as a self-service energy storage mechanism that automatically winds the strap without requiring continuous manual intervention. Once the spring is tensioned, it autonomously performs the winding operation, eliminating the need for manual cranking while maintaining relatively simple device structure. This resolves the contradiction by achieving fast automatic winding with minimal structural complexity.
3Weight of moving object
If a small coil spring is used, then the device is lightweight, but the winding speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The speed-increasing gearbox acts as a mediator that amplifies the rotational speed generated by the small coil spring. By incorporating gears with appropriate ratios, the gearbox converts the slow rotation of the lightweight spring into rapid reel rotation, achieving high winding speed without requiring a heavy spring. This resolves the contradiction between light weight and fast winding speed.
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 solution enables a lightweight, cost-effective tie-down device that winds straps quickly and efficiently, reducing the need for large, heavy coil springs and improving operational speed.
Implementation Method 1
a gearbox connects the driving unit to the reeling unit
Implementation Method 2
a gearbox connects the driving unit to the reeling unit
Implementation Method 3
The coil spring includes an end connected to the axle and another end connected to the reel
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A tie-down device includes a frame, a strap, a reeling unit (40), a driving unit and a gear box. The frame includes two walls (24) extending from a base. The reeling unit includes a reel (44) rotationally supported on the walls for reeling the strap. The driving unit is supported on the first wall. The gearbox connects the driving unit to the reeling unit.