Abstract
A reset unit for resetting rotational and/or translational deflection movements of a setting element is provided. The reset unit has an ordered mesostructure of elementary cells consisting of an ordered arrangement of at least two elementary cells, wherein the at least two elementary cells each have at least one pore, which allows the elementary cells to be reversibly compressed and expanded through exposure to force, wherein a reset force of the reset unit can be at least partially generated by deforming the mesostructure.
Claims
1. A reset unit for resetting rotational and/or translational deflection movements, which has at least one ordered mesostructure consisting of an ordered arrangement of at least two elementary cells, wherein the elementary cells each have at least one pore, which allows the elementary cells to be reversibly compressed and expanded through exposure to force, wherein a reset force of the reset unit can be at least partially generated by deforming the mesostructure.
2. The reset unit according to claim 1, wherein the reset unit has at least two mesostructures, in particular identical mesostructures, which are connected in parallel in terms of force application.
3. The reset unit according to claim 1, wherein an elastic element, in particular a spring or an elastomer, or an adaptive element, in particular an actuator or an MRF element, is placed upstream and/or downstream from at least one elementary cell in terms of force application.
4. The reset unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one mesostructure has at least two different elementary cells, which vary with respect to their structure, shape, material and/or arrangement.
5. The reset unit according to claim 1, wherein the reset unit has different mesostructures, which are interchangeable in use.
6. The reset unit according to claim 1, wherein the different mesostructures are interchangeable with each other by means of a changing magazine in the reset unit, in particular a drum changing magazine.
7. The reset unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one mesostructure has at least one signal generator.
8. An operating device having a reset unit according to claim 1.
9. The operating device according to claim 8, wherein the operating device has a control lever, wherein the reset unit is mounted in the control lever, in particular in an element of the control lever that scans a motion link.
10. The operating device according to claim 8, wherein the operating device has a motion link into which a control lever is guided, wherein the reset unit resets the motion link.
11. The operating device according to claim 8, wherein the motion link consists of multiple parts, wherein at least one of these motion link parts is reset by a reset unit.
12. The operating device according to claim 8, wherein the operating device has a contact surface contacted by a user, which is reset by the reset unit.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the invention will be exemplarily described with reference to a drawing, wherein several advantageous details may be gleaned from the figures of the drawing.
[0023] Functionally identical parts are here provided with the same reference numbers.
[0024] Specifically shown on the figures of the drawing are:
[0025] FIG. 1: an exemplary mesostructure in the sense of the invention,
[0026] FIG. 2a: a first alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with an operating device in an idle state,
[0027] FIG. 2b: a first alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with an operating device in a deflected state,
[0028] FIG. 3: a second alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with an operating device in an idle state,
[0029] FIG. 4a: a third alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with an operating device in an idle state,
[0030] FIG. 4b: a fourth alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with an operating device in an idle state,
[0031] FIG. 5a: a first alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with a flexible motion link,
[0032] FIG. 5b: a second alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with a flexible motion link,
[0033] FIG. 5c: a third alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with a flexible motion link,
[0034] FIG. 6: a changing magazine according to the invention with different mesostructures,
[0035] FIG. 7: a reset unit according to the invention during application in the handle of a control lever.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0036] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary mesostructure 2 in the sense of the invention. The depicted mesostructure 2 is an ordered, i.e., non-stochastic, mesostructure 2, which has several elementary cells 3. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the elementary cells 3 are comprised of several undulating walls, which are arranged in such a way relative to each other as to form roughly a hexagon in one plane, in the middle of which a recess is arranged as a pore 4. The formation of a hexagon in one plane is here to be construed to mean that a point on the wall of the elementary cells 3 can again be reached by running the elementary cell 3. The pore 4 is hence a recess that is enclosed by the elementary cell 3 at least on the plane upon which the elementary cell 3 forms essentially a hexagon. Due to the shape of the elementary cells 3 and their flexible material, the elementary cells 3 can be reversibly compressed and expanded during exposure to a force. The entire mesostructure 2 can thus be reversibly compressed and expanded, both locally over individual elementary cells 3, and overall over all elementary cells 3 taken together. This enables a precise, needs-based application of the mesostructure 2, but also a high variability in design of this mesostructure 2, which can be adjusted through the suitable selection of elementary cells 3 and their structure, arrangement, shape and/or material, and through their arrangement relative to each other individually or as a whole, depending on the application. The redundancy of the elementary cells 3 makes it possible to compensate for the failure of individual elementary cells 3 by redistributing the forces to the remaining elementary cells 3. This ensures the continued overall function of the reset unit 1, even given a failure of individual elementary cells 3.
[0037] FIG. 2a shows a first alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during use with an operating devices 9 in an idle state. The reset unit 1 is comprised of a mesostructure 2 having several elementary cells 3. The depicted configuration of the mesostructure 2 is to be understood as an example of one of numerous possible configurations of the mesostructure 2, which can assume a wide variety of forms, as already explained with regard to FIG. 1. While the operating device 9 is a control lever 10 in the embodiment shown, any other rotatable or swiveling operating device 9 can be used with the depicted embodiment of the reset unit. In the embodiment shown on FIG. 2a, the reset unit 1 is arranged in the swiveling direction toward the end of the operating device 9 facing away from the user. During the deflection of the operating device 9 and, as illustrated by the direction of force marked on FIG. 2b, the accompanying compression of the reset unit 1, the reset force of the reset unit 1 thus acts opposite the swiveling direction of the operating device 9 without any further force redirection. FIG. 2b shows the same reset unit 1 according to the invention during application with an operating device 9 in a deflected state. During the deflection, an end of the operating device 9 guided in the reset unit 1 is swiveled, and presses against the reset unit 1 in such a way as to compress it. As a result, a reset force is generated in the mesostructure 2, which resets the reset unit 1 in its idle state, and thereby counteracts the operating device 9 and its deflection.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows a second alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application with an operating device 9 in an idle state. The reset unit 1 is shown during application with an operating device 9, wherein the operating device 9 has an arm or a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the operating device 9, which when the operating device 9 is deflected comes into contact with the reset unit 1, and compresses it. The reset force generated in the reset unit 1 resets the operating device 9 into its idle position. The reset unit 1 has several mesostructures 2 connected in parallel to each other, which here are depicted as schematic squares. This schematic illustration comprises any forms of mesostructures 2 which according to the invention each have at least two elementary cells, each with at least one pore. The parallel connection of the mesostructures 2 is to be understood as an arrangement of the latter one next to the other, so that the arrangement of the mesostructures 2 is arranged perpendicular to the direction of force application. This redundancy of the parallel connected mesostructures 2 can compensate for the failure of individual mesostructures 2 by redistributing the forces to the remaining mesostructures 2. As a result, the function of the reset unit 1 remains completely intact even given the failure of individual mesostructures 2. By serially connecting mesostructures 2 at selected locations, i.e., by arranging the mesostructures 2 in a direction of force application relative to each other, force lines that differ from the remaining mesostructures 2 can be generated at these locations, for example so as to form overprint points. By suitably selecting serial and parallel connections for the mesostructures in specific positions, a specific, needs-based force line of the reset unit 1 can be achieved in this way.
[0039] FIG. 4a shows a third alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application with an operating device 9 in an idle state. In this embodiment, the operating device 9 transmits both swiveling movements as well as tensile and compressive movements to the reset unit 1, as a result of which the reset unit and the flexible elements contained therein are compressed and expanded accordingly. In this embodiment, the reset unit 1 has a plurality of mesostructures 2 connected in parallel to each other, which offer the advantages already mentioned. In the embodiment shown, the mesostructures 2 and elastic elements 5 are here connected to each other in series in the form of springs, i.e., arranged parallel to each other relative to the direction of force application. In the sense of the invention, the spring is a simple variant of an elastic element 5, which is a passive element that upon deformation generates a predefined reset force which overlays the reset force of the upstream or downstream mesostructure 2. By contrast, FIG. 4b shows a fourth alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application with an identical operating device 9 in an idle state, wherein the mesostructures 2 in this embodiment are connected in series with adaptive elements 6, here in the form of actuators. As opposed to the elastic elements on FIG. 4a, these are active elements that can be operated by a user. Therefore, by actuating the adaptive elements 6, a user can set the reset force thereby generated or the preload of the downstream mesostructure 2 as needed. Both the elastic and also the adaptive elements generate a preload on the downstream mesostructures 2. As a result, the reset unit 1, which is already variably configurable owing to the variability of the mesostructure 2, can once again be more flexibly used, and a force line can be determined in an especially precise manner.
[0040] FIG. 5a shows a first alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application with a flexible motion link 11. In this application, an operating device that is movably, in particular swivelably, guided at one end in the motion link 11, and the motion link 11 are correspondingly deformed and/or displaced during a deflection of the operating device. Therefore, the depicted motion link 11 can be variable in its basic shape, which amounts to a deformation, or be mounted so that it can only be moved in its entirety, so that the entire motion link 11 is moved relative to a base during a displacement. The motion link 11 is here reset into its idle position by the reset unit 1 effectively connected with it. Here as well, the reset unit 1 has several parallel connected mesostructures 2, which each reset individual areas of the motion link 11 and the motion link 11 in different directions of force based upon their orientation. By contrast, FIG. 5b shows a second alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application with a flexible motion link 11, in which mesostructures 2 are connected in series to each other at selected locations. This yields other force lines, by means of which the reset force is varyingly adjusted depending on the position of the operating device in the motion link 11 independently of the actual motion link shape. As a result, for example, overprint points or other needs-based specific force lines or points can be generated. Contrary to the above,
[0041] FIG. 5c shows a third alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application with a flexible motion link 11, in which such an overprint point is generated by combining the springy mesostructures 2 and above all a volume body on the motion link, which can have a stiffness different than the motion link. Here as well, the stiffness of the volume body and the properties and arrangement of the mesostructures 2 make it possible to generate a needs-based force line in the area of the overprint point.
[0042] FIG. 6 shows a changing magazine 7 according to the invention with different mesostructures 2. The changing magazine 7 is here only shown schematically, and is intended to illustrate the basic function. Accordingly, the changing magazine 7 has several chambers, into which different mesostructures 2, here likewise only shown schematically, are in particular detachably inserted. The changing magazine 7 is arranged in such a way relative to an operating device as to be forcefully connected with one of the chambers of the changing magazine, so that a movement of the operating device results in a compression or expansion of the mesostructure 2 arranged in said chamber. If such a changing magazine configured as a drum changing magazine is rotatably mounted, then rotating it can move each of the mesostructures 2 arranged therein into a position forcefully connected with the operating device. Depending on the mesostructures 2 selected, highly specific force lines can be prepared as needed, which correspond to specific applications of the reset unit or the operating device to be reset. The chambers are not limited to a homogenous distribution of mesostructures 2 or elementary cells. Rather, individual chambers of the changing magazine 7 can have several chambers of mesostructures, of which only individual chambers are compressed or expanded, depending on the deflection of an operating device to be reset, as exemplarily shown on FIGS. 2a, 2b and 3. The invention also provides for a variation of mesostructures in such a way as to yield specific force lines, as depicted on FIGS. 3, 4a, 4b and 5b.
[0043] FIG. 7 shows a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application in the handle of a control lever 10. The handle of a control lever 10 is the end of the control lever 10 that is contacted by a user while in use. Accordingly, the surface of the handle is a contact surface 12 for the user. The reset unit 1 is here arranged in the handle in such a way that the user compresses the reset unit 1 while using the handle due to the contact. Therefore, the user perceives the reset force depending on the intensity of the compression. In addition, the reset unit 1 has signal generators 8, which emit a signal that is perceptible from outside. For example, the signal generators 8 can be simple magnets, which emit a magnetic field that can be perceived by a Hall sensor or other elements. As a result, a positional change of the signal generators 8 during compression or expansion of the reset unit 1 can be perceived and evaluated.
