Winch Locking Mechanism Axial Force Constraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking mechanisms for support winches on commercial vehicles allow force components to act along the axis of rotation during power transmission, leading to unfavorable loading and potential damage to gear wheels and transmission input shafts.
Innovation Solution
A locking mechanism comprising a stator unit, a rotor unit, and a locking unit, where the crank element is pivotably arranged relative to the shaft element, with the locking unit securing the crank element against displacement along the axis of rotation in the rest position and preventing pivoting in the operating position, ensuring that forces transmitted are perpendicular to the axis of rotation, thus reducing load on the transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the crank element is allowed to pivot relative to the shaft element during operation, then the transmission of drive torque is enabled, but force components act along the axis of rotation causing unfavorable loading and potential damage to gear wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The locking unit is designed to prevent the harmful pivoting movement of the crank element relative to the shaft element before the force components can cause damage to the gear wheels and transmission components. By preemptively constraining the crank element's movement, the system eliminates the harmful axial force components while still allowing torque transmission through the intended rotational path.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking unit acts as an intermediary element between the crank element and the shaft element, controlling their relative movement. It allows the necessary rotation for torque transmission while blocking the harmful pivoting motion that would create axial force components, thus mediating between the need for power transmission and the need to prevent harmful loading.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the crank element is secured against displacement along the axis of rotation in the rest position, then the crank element is held in a stable position, but the mechanism complexity increases due to the locking unit
Solution Approach 1:
The locking unit is integrated into the existing transmission housing structure, merging the stabilization function with the housing rather than adding a completely separate component. This integration reduces the overall device complexity while still providing the necessary constraint to hold the crank element in a stable rest position against axial displacement.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the locking unit prevents pivoting of the crank element during operation, then force components along the axis of rotation are eliminated, but the ease of operation is reduced due to the locking constraint
Solution Approach 1:
The locking unit is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to adapt to the operational state. During normal operation when torque is being transmitted, the locking unit maintains the constraint to prevent axial force components. The system dynamically manages the balance between operational freedom and constraint based on the transmission state, ensuring harmful forces are eliminated without unnecessarily restricting legitimate operational movements.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a locking mechanism, more particularly for use on a support winch, comprising a stator unit, a rotor unit and a locking unit, wherein the rotor unit has a shaft element and a crank element, wherein the crank element is pivotably arranged in relation to the shaft element, wherein the shaft element is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis, and secured to prevent displacement transverse to the rotation axis relative to the stator unit, wherein, when the crank element is in an idle position, the locking unit is designed to secure the crank element in a first axial position to prevent displacement along the rotation axis in at least one direction, and wherein, when the crank element is in an operating position, the locking unit is designed to secure the crank element to prevent swivelling movement relative to the shaft element.