Utility Coupler with Failsafe Cam Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing utility couplers often require torque to couple and decouple, which can misalign units and lack mechanisms to prevent inadvertent decoupling, making them inefficient and unreliable for providing utilities to industrial equipment.
Innovation Solution
A utility coupler design featuring a hooking cam member with a composite cam surface that engages a latching pin, providing a torque-free coupling mechanism and incorporating failsafe features to prevent unintentional decoupling, using a handle and over-center linkage for mechanical advantage to ensure secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If torque is applied to couple and decouple utility couplers, then the coupling mechanism can be actuated, but misalignment between tool and coupling units occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional rotational torque-based coupling mechanism with a linear reciprocating mechanism. The hooking cam member moves linearly along the axis of the groove rather than rotating, which eliminates torque application and prevents misalignment between the tool unit and coupling unit during coupling and decoupling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using rotational motion (torque) to achieve coupling, the patent inverts the approach by using linear reciprocating motion. The hooking cam member reciprocates linearly within the groove, engaging and disengaging the latching pin through linear movement rather than rotational force, thereby solving the alignment problem.
2Ease of operation
If manual coupling mechanisms are used, then coupling can be achieved, but tight fit with minimal effort is difficult to accomplish
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a cam surface with curved geometry on the hooking cam member. This cam surface interacts with the latching pin to provide mechanical advantage during the linear reciprocating motion, enabling the operator to achieve a tight fit with minimal effort while maintaining coupling reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism utilizes dynamic motion through the reciprocating linear actuation of the hooking cam member. The cam surface converts this linear reciprocating motion into the necessary force multiplication, allowing easy operation while ensuring a secure tight fit between the coupling units.
3Productivity
If traditional coupling mechanisms are used, then coupling can be achieved, but inadvertent decoupling cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates failsafe features including a safety latch and failsafe surfaces that proactively prevent inadvertent decoupling. The safety latch engages to lock the hooking cam member in its actuated position, while the failsafe surfaces on the cam member provide additional mechanical prevention against unintended decoupling, ensuring coupling stability during utility provision.
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 allows for easy, reliable, and secure coupling of utility units without misalignment, while the failsafe surfaces and latching mechanism prevent accidental decoupling, ensuring consistent utility supply to industrial equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a composite cam surface on the hooking cam member operative to engage the latching pin and lock the coupling unit to the tool unit as the hooking cam member moves linearly within the groove
Implementation Method 2
a manual coupling mechanism employing mechanical advantage would represent an advance over the state-of-the-art
Data Source
AI summary
A utility coupler comprises a coupling unit that is coupled to a tool unit via the reciprocal linear actuation of a hooking cam member in the coupling unit engaging a latching pin in the tool unit. The hooking cam member includes a composite cam surface operative to couple and hold the two units together as the latching pin engages different surfaces of the composite cam surface. Failsafe features prevent the inadvertent decoupling of the units.