Vehicle Cover Actuator With Force Limiting for Manual Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle covering devices face issues such as high risk of injury, damage, and inadequate access during power failure due to high motor force, compactness requirements, and insufficient protection against manual damage.
Innovation Solution
A covering device with a force-limitation apparatus that limits the force applied by the drive element, incorporating a torque-shifting safety clutch or elastic elements to prevent injury and damage, and an actuator with a force-decoupling apparatus to ensure access during power failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a motor is used to drive the cover automatically, then the opening and closing process is automated, but the high force required causes injury risk to users and damage to the covering device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a force-limitation apparatus that预先 limits the maximum force the motor can exert on the cover. This safety mechanism is built into the system beforehand to prevent excessive force from causing injury or damage, while still allowing automated operation to function normally under regular conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The force-limitation apparatus acts as an intermediary component between the motor and the cover. It mediates the force transmission by allowing normal operation forces to pass through while blocking excessive forces, thus protecting both users and the device without compromising automated functionality.
2Force
If the motor provides high force for closing, then the covering device can overcome resistance, but fingers may get caught and injured during closure
Solution Approach 1:
The force-limitation apparatus is designed to预先 set a safe force threshold that prevents the closing force from exceeding levels that could injure fingers. This cushioning effect is built into the system before operation, allowing sufficient closing force while preventing harmful excessive force.
3Volume of moving object
If the drive element is designed for compactness, then installation space is reduced, but the transition ratio increases causing self-locking and loss of manual access during power failure
Solution Approach 1:
The force-limitation apparatus serves as an intermediary that enables the drive element to maintain a compact design while preventing self-locking. By limiting the force transmission, it allows the cover to be manually moved even when the motor is not providing power, thus maintaining accessibility without increasing actuator size.
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
Minimizes the risk of injury and damage to the system while ensuring access to compartments even during power failure, providing a compact and robust design.
Implementation Method 1
a force-limitation apparatus (30b, 30c) which limits the force brought about by the drive element (40b, 40c)... the elastic element (35), which is connected on a first side to the control lever (34) and on a second side to the cover, preferably a pivot arm
Implementation Method 2
an automatically torque-shifting safety clutch which separates the cover from the drive element when the limit force is reached
Data Source
AI summary
A covering device for a vehicle, includes: a cover; a drive element formed to enable a movement of the cover, wherein the drive element brings about a force which acts on the cover. The covering device has a force-limitation apparatus which limits the force brought about by the drive element to a limit force so that the covering device is protected in the event of an overload acting on the covering device and/or a user is protected when using the covering device. An actuator has a drive apparatus with a drive element; an output drive element; and a force-decoupling apparatus. The force-decoupling apparatus is formed so that it at least temporarily does not output a force taken up by the drive element or at least temporarily outputs it in a delayed manner to the output drive element.