Gradual Position Drift
The Problem: Doors, lights, and articulating arms slowly drift away from their desired position over time or require complicated locking mechanisms to hold in place.
The Solution: Symmetric Torque
Summary: Symmetric ReellTorq® prevents drift and makes adjustment feel elegant and comfortable in both directions. With consistent torque in both directions, movement is smooth, and users can easily “set and forget” the position of the device with confidence.
A Heavy Lid
The Problem: Users struggle to lift a heavy lid when they also need to overcome the holding force of a traditional positioning solution.
The Solution: One-way Torque
Summary: In addition to the challenge of overcoming gravity, traditional symmetric positioning solutions require the user to also overcome the holding force of the positioning element. A One-way torque element eliminates positioning torque in the upward direction, making lifting easier, while still retaining full positioning torque in the downward direction to hold the lid firmly in place. This makes industrial equipment lids easier to open and hold in any position. It also increases product safety by preventing falling lids that bump heads and pinch fingers.
Bouncing Out of Position
Problem: Vibrational forces cause devices to bounce up
Solution: Differential Torque
Summary: One-way solutions can create issues in applications with significant external movement, such as off-road vehicles or airline interiors. As external forces act on the device, a device with no torque in the upward direction moves up freely when bounced, but the torque in the downward direction prevents return to its original position, causing the device to slowly bounce upward over time. A differential torque profile provides just enough upward torque to prevent positional bounce, while still providing full holding force for positioning.
Loose Joints that Rattle
Problem: Joints that are loose enough to move freely feel cheap and flimsy and may cause an audible rattle in applications with vibration.
Solution: Symmetric Torque
Summary: Robust products have a smooth, solid feel. Motion that rotates freely but doesn’t feel loose creates user confidence in the quality of the product. Adding a symmetric torque element ensures a smooth feel and eliminates rattle and squeak over any range of motion.
