How do I mate these parts together

[Adrian2]

Dear Folks;

I've enclosed a jpeg file showing the one of the center wedge locks on a swing bridge.

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...8586-cac650d266fb&file=center_wedge_model.jpg

The Moveable Wedge slides in a T slot in the Bridge Bracket. It's easy enough to mate the wedge to the bracket so it slides back and forth.

But once the wedge comes in contact with the wear plate mounted on the fixed support it starts pushing the bridge bracket up.

Cant seem to devise a set of mates that would allow me to model this real life motion.

Does anyone have any suggestions ?

Many thanks in advance for your consideration

Adrian Dunevein
AAA Drafting Services

http://www.aaadrafting.com

http://home.cogeco.ca/~adunevein/

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[TheTick]

I would start with a limit mate between the wedge and the wear plate. Set the min. distance to zero, and the wedge will not fall below the wear plate.

Not sure how to constrain the rest. The bridge bracket would need to be free to move up, but not before the wedge contacts the wear plate.

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[dgowans]

Can you use Physical Dynamics to accomplish what you need?

 

[handleman]

Going along with TheTick's suggestion, you also need a limit mate between the bridge and the ground/fixed plate. The maximum distance is (something large) and the minimum distance is the "resting" height. Then, to drag the wedge inward, drag in a diagonal downward direction. This will keep the bridge at its "resting" height until the wedge contacts the wear pad. At that point it will start pushing the bridge up. Unfortunately, I don't think you're going to be able to reduce this to a completely 1 DOF system, but as long as you are careful while moving components they will move per your design.

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

 

[SincoTC]

I don't know if I'm missing something but isn't there is a simple solution to this?

Both the Support Bracket and the Bridge Bracket are aligned longditudinally and transversly by coincident mates on suitably placed Front and Right Planes (or suitable reference planes). The Support is "Fixed" and the Wedge is aligned with them by a coincedent Front Plane and the Wedge action is controlled by coincident mates on the respective Wedge and wear plate contact surfaces.

There should also be a limit distance mate to prevent it flying out.

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...-4c14-9a62-3bb79283720e&file=bridge_wedge.jpg

Trevor Clarke. (R & D) Scientific Instruments.Somerset. UK

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[Adrian2]

Thanks to everybody for helping out.

The Ticks suggestion of a limit mate between the bottom of the wedge and the fixed support made the model work properly.

The motion is trickier than it looks at first glance Trevor, but thanks so much for your suggestions.

In real life the wedge slides up the incline surface on the bridge bracket, and at the same time the bridge bracket descends under the weight of the bridge.

The bridge drops down about 20mm and at that point, the wedge breaks free of the flat surface of the fixed bracket and continues up the incline surface of the bridge bracket.
The wedge gets pulled clear of the fixed bracket so the whole bridge can be rotated to allow ships to pass.

With the limit mate, and the linkage in place that moves the wedge, the motion works very nicely.

Again, many thanks for all your help.




Adrian Dunevein
AAA Drafting Services

http://www.aaadrafting.com

http://home.cogeco.ca/~adunevein/

SW2006 Office Pro. SP4.1