Vehicle Step Arc Slot Mechanism for Stress Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable vehicle-step devices face issues with stress concentration on pivot shafts, leading to reduced reliability and increased cost due to complex buffering structures, which fail to distribute stress evenly and meet both trafficability and ergonomic requirements.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a mounting bracket, step bracket, arc sliding member, and arc slot mechanism, where the arc sliding member is slidable within the arc slot to distribute stress evenly and provide a self-locking force, eliminating stress concentration and simplifying the buffering structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a four-link mechanism is used with short distance between pivot shafts, then the vehicle step can be extended and retracted, but stress concentrates on the pivot shafts leading to reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The four-link mechanism is divided into two separate mechanisms: a driving mechanism with driving arm and pivot shaft, and a supporting mechanism with supporting arm and arc slot. This segmentation distributes the stress and functional requirements across separate structural elements, preventing stress concentration on single pivot shafts while maintaining the extending and retracting function.
2Ease of operation
If a stopping block buffering structure is employed, then the extending and retracting action is controlled, but the apparatus complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting arm incorporates an arc slot with a curved geometry instead of using a stopping block. The arc slot's curved path naturally guides the arc sliding member during extension and retraction, providing buffering and control functions through its geometric shape alone, thereby eliminating the need for additional stopping block components and reducing overall apparatus complexity.
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
This solution enhances the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the vehicle-step device by evenly distributing stress, reducing complexity, and extending the useful life of the device while maintaining aesthetic appeal and improved trafficability.
Implementation Method 1
The arc sliding member is adapted to fit into the arc slot so as to be slidable in the arc slot
Data Source
AI summary
An extending and retracting device for a vehicle step includes a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to a body of a vehicle and a step bracket. An arc sliding member is fixed to the step bracket. A driving arm defines a pair of ends thereof pivotally connected to the mounting bracket and step bracket, respectively. A supporting arm defines an upper end portion thereof pivotally connected to the mounting bracket and a lower end portion of the supporting arm defining at least one arc slot of the lower end portion. The arc sliding member is adapted to fit into the arc slot so as to be slidable in the arc slot such that the lower end portion of the supporting arm is slidably connected to the step bracket.