Toggle Clamp for Industrial Truck Battery Hood
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toggle clamps for industrial truck battery hood closures are cumbersome to operate and integrate, lacking sufficient clamping force and design aesthetics, while being difficult to install and produce cost-effectively.
Innovation Solution
A toggle clamp design featuring a closure part with an anchoring element and a closing lever, equipped with two spring elements to facilitate easy operation, automatic snapping, and defined snap positions, allowing for reliable locking and easy release with a continuous lever movement, along with a sensor for locking detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional toggle clamps are used for battery hood closure, then the closure function is achieved, but the operation becomes cumbersome and the levers project from the contour progression
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is divided into separate functional elements: a closure part with anchoring element and closing lever, and a holding part with holding axle. The latch acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the closing lever and holding axle, allowing independent optimization of each segment's function and appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
A latch with latch nose is introduced as an intermediary element between the closing lever and holding axle. This mediator enables the closing lever to actuate the closure function while the latch itself engages with the holding axle, separating the operational mechanism from the visible contour and improving both ease of operation and aesthetic integration.
2Reliability
If conventional toggle clamps are used, then the closure is achieved, but sufficient clamping force is not generated to lock components in place
Solution Approach 1:
The latch is preliminarily positioned by the closing lever's movement through the dead center, which automatically guides the latch nose onto the holding axle before final clamping. This preliminary engagement ensures reliable locking is achieved through the mechanical advantage of the toggle mechanism rather than relying solely on spring force.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes dynamic movement through a dead center position to generate clamping force. As the closing lever moves through the dead center formed with the holding axle, the geometric configuration changes dynamically, converting the lever's motion into significant clamping force that securely locks the latch onto the holding axle.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional toggle clamps are used, then the closure function is achieved, but installation is cumbersome and integration into exterior design is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is divided into separate functional elements: a closure part with anchoring element and closing lever, and a holding part with holding axle. The latch acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the closing lever and holding axle, allowing independent optimization of each segment's function and appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure part with anchoring element serves multiple functions: it provides mounting for the closing lever, defines the dead center position, and enables integration into various vehicle designs. The anchoring element with its axle and boundary axle creates a universal interface that can be adapted to different exterior designs while maintaining the same operational mechanism.
4Reliability
If the latch is designed to catch behind the holding axle, then secure locking is achieved, but the mechanism becomes complex to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The latch is preliminarily positioned by the closing lever's movement through the dead center, which automatically guides the latch nose onto the holding axle before final clamping. This preliminary engagement ensures reliable locking is achieved through the mechanical advantage of the toggle mechanism rather than relying solely on spring force.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is self-guiding through the dead center position. As the closing lever is actuated, the geometry of the system automatically guides the latch nose onto the holding axle without requiring precise manual alignment or complex operational steps from the user, achieving both secure locking and ease of operation.
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 provides a simple, comfortable, and reliable operation with enhanced clamping force, improved design integration, and cost-effective production, ensuring secure closure and easy installation on industrial truck battery hoods.
Implementation Method 1
one spring element of which pushes the closing lever into the open position
Implementation Method 2
the second spring element pushes the pivotably mounted latch into the closed position
Implementation Method 3
the latch first hits the holding axle and catches behind it
Data Source
AI summary
A closure for a toggle clamp for an industrial truck, wherein the closure has a holding part, a holding axle mounted to the holding part, a closure part, wherein the closure part has an anchoring element, a closing lever, a boundary axle mounted to the anchoring element, a closing lever pivotably mounted to the closing lever axle, a latch axle mounted to the closing lever, a latch mounted to the closing lever axle, the boundary axle, pivotably mounted to the latch axle, and the latch nose configured to engage the holding axle, a first spring element attached to the closing lever axle, and a second spring element attached to the latch axle, and a pivot axle configured to be attached to the industrial truck.