Torque Rod Clutch Structure for Low-Friction Over-Torque Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional torque rods suffer from structural complexity and high manufacturing costs due to complex bearing structures and large contact areas, leading to increased friction and reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
A torque rod design featuring a main body, transmission rod, anti-release sleeve member, low-friction device with spherical contact members, clutch device, and torque device, which reduces friction and assembly complexity by using a low-friction device and anti-release sleeve member to prevent detachment, and includes a clutch mechanism to prevent over-torque.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional bearing structures are used to reduce friction, then friction between components is reduced, but the overall structure becomes complex and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spherical contact members (balls) instead of conventional bearing structures. The spherical geometry naturally reduces friction through point contact while simplifying the overall structure. The balls are positioned in grooves between the transmission member and outer casing, providing low-friction rotation without requiring complex bearing assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple spherical contact members that can be easily manufactured and replaced compared to complex bearing structures. These spherical elements are inexpensive to produce and can be quickly replaced if worn, reducing maintenance costs and complexity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If position limiting pin is positioned between pin hole and position limiting groove, then positional limitation is achieved, but additional holes are required during manufacturing increasing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the position limiting function into the existing groove structures of the transmission member and outer casing. The spherical contact members are retained within grooves that already exist in the design, eliminating the need for additional position limiting holes and simplifying manufacturing.
3Stability of the object's composition
If large contact area is used between position limiting pin and outer casing, then positional stability is improved, but wearing increases and service life reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses spherical contact members that provide point contact rather than large surface contact. This reduces the contact area and consequently reduces friction and wearing between the position limiting components and the outer casing, extending service life while maintaining positional stability through the spherical geometry.
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 design effectively lowers rotational friction, reduces wearing, improves service life, and simplifies assembly while lowering manufacturing costs by utilizing a simple structure and multi-point contact with spherical members.
Implementation Method 1
a low-friction device having a plurality of spherical contact members covered by the anti-release sleeve member and disposed in the setting space, each spherical contact member having a longitudinal axis arranged in parallel to the central axis
Data Source
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AI summary
A torque rod (100) includes a main body (10); a transmission rod (20) inserted to the main body (10) and having a surrounding first groove (22) exposed from the main body (10); an anti-release sleeve member (30) mounted around the main body (10) and having a second groove (321) on an inner edge, with a setting space (S) formed by the second groove (321) and the first groove (22); a low-friction device (40) in the setting space (S); a clutch device (50) connected with the transmission rod (20) and switchable between a transmission and a declutched statuses; a torque device (60) providing a predetermined torque abutting against the clutch device (50), so the clutch device (50) is in the transmission status, whereby the transmission rod (20) transmits a torque through the clutch device (50) to the main body (10). When the transmission rod (20) bears a torque greater than the predetermined torque, the clutch device (60) enters the declutched status, preventing the torque from being transmitted to the main body (10).