Yoke Barrier Sleeve Segmentation for Rod Strength and Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing yoke barriers face issues with structural weakness due to notches on rods, which can lead to rupture, and insufficient noise reduction from moving parts, along with precision challenges in bearing arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A yoke barrier design featuring a cylindrical sleeve with axial locking and a separate rotational drive rod, where the sleeve is made of molded plastic to reduce noise and incorporates radial extensions and offset stops to enhance stability and precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If notches are made on the rod to enable the sliding shaft to fall and immobilize the lever, then the locking function is achieved, but the rod becomes weakened and prone to rupture
Solution Approach 1:
The rod is divided into two separate components: a cylindrical sleeve containing the notch and a separate rod that passes through the sleeve. This segmentation allows the notch to be made in the sleeve rather than the load-bearing rod, maintaining rod strength while achieving the locking function when the sliding shaft falls into the notch.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical sleeve acts as an intermediary element between the rod and the sliding shaft. The sleeve receives the sliding shaft in its notch to immobilize the lever, while the rod passes through the sleeve without being weakened by notches. The sleeve mediates the locking function while preserving the structural integrity of the rod.
2Weight of moving object
If the rod is made from a tube to reduce mass, then the weight is reduced, but the notches further weaken the already reduced cross-section
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the rod-sleeve assembly, the notch is relocated to the sleeve which can be a separate molded component. This allows the rod to maintain its tubular lightweight structure without the additional weakening effect of notches, as the notch functionality is provided by the separate sleeve component.
3Reliability
If the sliding shaft falls into the notch to immobilize the lever, then the locking position is achieved, but noise is generated from the shock of moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical sleeve serves as a mediator that cushions the impact when the sliding shaft falls into the notch. The sleeve's material and structure absorb the shock, reducing the noise generated by the direct impact between the sliding shaft and the rod, while still achieving reliable lever immobilization.
4Strength
If bearings are arranged at the right of the notches to reinforce the rod, then structural reinforcement is achieved, but precision in positioning becomes difficult to obtain
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the rod from the sleeve containing the notch, the positioning requirements are simplified. The sleeve can be independently positioned and secured in the bearing, while the rod passes through freely. This eliminates the need for precise coordination between notch positions and bearing locations, as the sleeve acts as the positioning element rather than the rod itself.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~7
Figure 8~9
AI summary
The barrier has upper and lower side sills joined together by fixed or movable posts. A control rod has a set of notches, where a sliding pin is inserted in each notch. The sliding pin is guided in a fork of a pivoting lever. A locking notch (1) of the pivoting lever is formed on a cylindrical sleeve, and traversed freely by a pivoting rod (4) whose longitudinal axis is different from axis of a sliding sleeve. The sleeve has two radial extensions (7, 8) and axial immobilization units that ensure axial immobilization with respect to a bearing (9) integrated with the upper side sill.