Washing machine door lock and washing machine
By using shape memory alloy components to replace the traditional drive device, the structure of the washing machine door lock is simplified, solving the problems of large housing volume and complex structure in the existing technology. This results in a washing machine door lock that is highly secure, reliable, and compact, with a delayed opening function to protect the internal components of the washing machine and save energy.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202311243656.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-09-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-19
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-09-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing washing machine door locks use electric motors or electromagnetic coils as driving devices, resulting in a large housing size and complex structure, which affects safety performance and reliability.
By replacing the traditional drive device with shape memory alloy parts, and utilizing the characteristics of shape memory alloy parts to deform when heated and restore their original shape when cooled, the locking and unlocking process is realized in combination with a heating element, which simplifies the structure of the locking assembly.
This invention achieves a washing machine door lock that is highly secure, reliable, and compact. It possesses good plasticity and toughness, extending its service life. Furthermore, it protects the internal components of the washing machine and saves energy through a delayed door opening function.
Smart Images

Figure CN117328247B_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of washing machines, in particular to a washing machine door lock and a washing machine. BACKGROUND
[0002] As a helper of washing clothes, the washing machine has become one of the indispensable household appliances in people's daily life. Nowadays, with the improvement of people's living standards, the functional requirements of washing machines are also increasing, and the washing machine industry has launched various multifunctional washing machines, such as washing machines with sterilization and disinfection, drying and other functions in addition to basic functions such as washing and dewatering. During the normal washing work of the washing machine, the door cover of the washing machine is connected with the main body of the washing machine through the door lock to prevent the door cover from being opened at will during the operation of the washing machine, such as the door cover of the washing machine in the high-speed rotating washing or dewatering process being accidentally opened, which may cause the clothes inside the washing machine to be thrown out at high speed, causing serious safety accidents. Therefore, the washing machine door lock is one of the important parts of the washing machine, which is related to the safety performance of the washing machine.
[0003] The existing washing machine door lock generally adopts an electric door lock or an electromagnetic door lock. Among them, the on-off control device of the electric door lock is usually driven by a motor or the like to move the moving contact towards the static contact, so that the moving contact and the static contact are connected to realize the power-on locking action; the moving contact is driven by a motor or the like to move away from the static contact, so that the moving contact and the static contact are separated to realize power-off, and the door lock is unlocked to make the washing machine door cover freely open. The electromagnetic door lock realizes on-off control through electromagnetic induction, that is, an electromagnetic coil and a bimetallic strip are arranged in the door lock shell, when power is on, the electromagnetic coil generates magnetism, one end of the bimetallic strip is connected with the static contact to realize the power-on locking action; after the washing is completed, the electromagnetic coil is powered off, the magnetism disappears, and the one end of the bimetallic strip connected with the static contact is separated from the static contact to realize the unlocking action.
[0004] However, the washing machine door lock using a motor or an electromagnetic coil as a driving device has a relatively large volume due to the large volume of the motor or the electromagnetic coil itself, so that the shell required for installing the driving device is also large. In addition, in order to ensure the safety performance of the door lock, the driving connection structure is relatively complex, and a certain driving stroke needs to be preset in the shell, which further increases the volume of the door lock shell. SUMMARY
[0005] The present application aims to provide a washing machine door lock and a washing machine with high safety, reliable performance and small volume.
[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present application proposes the following technical solutions:
[0007] A washing machine door lock comprises a locking assembly and a door fastener, the locking assembly comprises a mounting shell, a shape memory alloy piece, a heating element, a locking piece and a top cover;
[0008] One end side wall of the mounting shell is provided with a lock hole matched with the door fastener;
[0009] The locking piece is movably connected inside the mounting shell, and the top end surface of the locking piece is provided with a locking groove;
[0010] The top cover is connected to the top end of the mounting shell, and the heating element is arranged on the inner surface of the top cover corresponding to the position of the locking groove;
[0011] The shape memory alloy piece is arranged on the heating element, and the lower end of the shape memory alloy piece is provided with a plug corresponding to the position of the locking groove; when the shape memory alloy piece is in the original first shape, the plug is away from the locking groove; when the shape memory alloy piece is deformed to the second shape by heating, the plug is located in the locking groove;
[0012] The door fastener is inserted into the lock hole and connected with the locking piece.
[0013] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, one end of the locking piece is rotatably connected to the side wall of the mounting shell, the other end of the locking piece is a free end and extends to the inside of the lock hole, the bottom end surface of the locking piece is provided with a clamping block, and the top end surface of the locking piece corresponding to the position of the clamping block is provided with an elastic piece between the top cover;
[0014] The door fastener comprises a mounting plate and an insertion plate integrally formed and vertically connected together, the insertion plate is provided with a clamping groove matched with the clamping block, and the insertion plate is inserted into the lock hole to make the clamping block clamped with the clamping groove.
[0015] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, the shape memory alloy piece is in a symmetrical structure as a whole, the shape memory alloy piece is integrally formed and connected by two horizontally arranged m-shaped components in mirror symmetry, and the top end of the shape memory alloy piece is provided with a first stationary contact point;
[0016] The bottom of the locking groove is provided with a second stationary contact point;
[0017] The plug is provided with a movable contact point inside, when the shape memory alloy piece is not heated and in the original first shape, the shape memory alloy piece is in a compressed state, the top end of the movable contact point is connected with the first stationary contact point; when the shape memory alloy piece is deformed to the second shape by heating, the shape memory alloy piece is in an elongated state, the plug is located in the locking groove, and the bottom end of the movable contact point is connected with the second stationary contact point.
[0018] The lower end surface of the top cover is provided with first connecting plates on both sides, the bottom end of the first connecting plate is provided with a clamping hook, and the side wall of the mounting shell is provided with a clamping hole matched with the clamping hook.
[0019] The lower end surface of the top cover is provided with an installation groove, the top end of the shape memory alloy part is fixedly connected to one end of the installation groove close to the locking part, the heating element is arranged in the installation groove between the shape memory alloy part and the top cover, and the heating element is attached to the top end of the shape memory alloy part.
[0020] The upper end surface of the top cover is provided with an upper surrounding plate extending upwards around, the upper surrounding plate and the upper end surface of the top cover surround to form a wire slot, the bottom surface of the wire slot is provided with a plurality of wire outlet holes at one end close to the lock hole, the middle of the bottom surface of the wire slot is provided with a plurality of arched limiting holes, and the upper surrounding plate opposite to the lock hole is provided with a plurality of terminal pieces.
[0021] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, a rotating shaft hole is arranged on the side wall of the mounting shell.
[0022] The locking part comprises an integrally formed connecting inclined part and parallel part, the top end of the inclined part is provided with a rotating shaft matched with the rotating shaft hole on both sides, the locking groove and the clamping block are arranged on the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the parallel part respectively, the top surface of the parallel part above the clamping block is provided with a positioning groove, and the bottom end of the elastic part is located in the positioning groove.
[0023] The inner surface of the top cover is provided with a fixing groove corresponding to the position of the positioning groove, and the top end of the elastic part is fixedly connected in the fixing groove.
[0024] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, the side surface of the clamping block close to the lock hole is arranged as a first inclined surface, and the side wall end surface of the clamping groove away from the mounting plate is arranged as a second inclined surface.
[0025] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, the heating element is a thermal resistance.
[0026] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, the elastic part is a spring.
[0027] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, it further comprises a protective shell, and the protective shell comprises a bottom shell and an upper cover.
[0028] The middle part of the bottom shell is provided with a containing groove, the opposite two side walls of the containing groove are provided with outward protruding limiting grooves, and the outer side wall of the containing groove is provided with a plurality of protruding blocks.
[0029] The mounting shell is arranged in the containing groove, and the outer side wall of the mounting shell is provided with a limiting block matched with the limiting groove.
[0030] The lower end surface of the upper cover is provided with a plurality of second connecting plates corresponding to the positions of the protrusions, and the bottom end of the second connecting plate is provided with a connecting hole matched with the protrusion.
[0031] A washing machine comprises a washing machine door cover and a washing machine body, and further comprises the washing machine door lock as described above, the door fastener is fixedly connected to the washing machine door cover, and the locking assembly is installed on the washing machine body, when the washing machine door cover is covered on the washing machine body, one end of the door fastener towards the washing machine body is inserted into the lock hole of the locking assembly.
[0032] The technical scheme of the present application provides a washing machine door lock, which adopts a shape memory alloy part to replace a traditional motor or electromagnetic coil driving device, utilizes the characteristics that the shape memory alloy part is deformed by heating and restores the original state by cooling, and only needs to cooperate with a heating element to execute the locking and unlocking process, which is simple and effective, does not need complicated execution component connection and cooperation, and further, the shape memory alloy part has good plasticity and processability, can be conveniently processed into parts of various shapes and sizes, and can effectively simplify the volume of the locking assembly; in addition, the shape memory alloy material has good elasticity, can bear a large amount of deformation and stress, is not easy to break, has strong toughness compared with a bimetallic strip, and has a long service life.
[0033] It should be understood that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts described in greater detail below can be seen as being part of the inventive subject matter of the present disclosure, provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent.
[0034] The foregoing and other aspects, embodiments and features of the present teachings can be better understood from the following description of the present teachings taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Other aspects, embodiments and features of the present teachings will be apparent from the description that follows and from the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0035] The drawings are not drawn to scale. In the drawings, each same or like component is denoted with the same reference sign throughout the several views. For the purpose of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure. Now, embodiments of various aspects of the present teachings will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0036] Figure 1 is a front view of the locking assembly;
[0037] Figure 2 is a front view of the door fastener;
[0038] Figure 3 is a front view of the locking member;
[0039] Figure 4 The plan view of the lock assembly installed in the bottom shell;
[0040] Figure 5 The front view of the upper cover;
[0041] Figure 6 The connection block diagram of the moving contact and the first and second stationary contacts;
[0042] Figure 7 The structure side view when the locking member is not locked;
[0043] Figure 8 The enlarged schematic view of the structure at F;
[0044] Figure 9 The structure side view when the locking member is locked;
[0045] Figure 10 The structure schematic view when the door buckle is pulled out or inserted into the lock hole;
[0046] Figure 11 The structure schematic view when the door buckle is inserted into the lock hole;
[0047] Figure 12 The front view of the protective shell.
[0048] Explanation of reference numerals:
[0049] 1 - lock assembly 101 - installation shell 102 - shape memory alloy member 103 - heating element 104 - locking member 105 - top cover 106 - lock hole 107 - elastic member 1011 - clamping hole 1012 - rotating shaft hole 1013 - limiting block 1021 - plug 1022 - first stationary contact 1023 - moving contact 1041 - locking groove 1042 - clamping block 1043 - second stationary contact 1044 - rotating shaft 1045 - positioning groove 1051 - first connecting plate 1052 - installation groove 1053 - upper surrounding plate 1054 - wire outlet hole 1055 - limiting hole 1056 - wiring piece 1057 - fixing groove 2 - door buckle 201 - installation plate 202 - plug-in plate 2021 - clamping groove 3 - protective shell 301 - bottom shell 302 - upper cover 3011 - limiting groove 3012 - protrusion 3021 - second connecting plate 3022 - connecting hole DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0050] In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, but not all the embodiments of the present application. Based on the described embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort belong to the scope of the present application. Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms used herein should be understood as the common meanings thereof by those of ordinary skill in the art.
[0051] The terms "first", "second", and similar terms used in the patent application specification and claims of the present application do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but are used to distinguish different components. Similarly, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" do not denote the quantity restriction, but denote the existence of at least one, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprise", "include" and similar terms mean that the elements or objects appearing before "comprise" or "include" cover the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components listed after "comprise" or "include", and do not exclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or sets thereof. "Up", "down", "left", "right" and the like are only used to represent relative positional relationships, and when the absolute positions of the described objects are changed, the relative positional relationships may also be changed accordingly.
[0052] Embodiment 1
[0053] As Figures 1-12As shown, the embodiment of the present application provides a washing machine door lock, which comprises a locking assembly 1 and a door buckle 2. The locking assembly 1 comprises a mounting shell 101, a shape memory alloy piece 102, a heating element 103, a locking piece 104 and a top cover 105. One end of the mounting shell 101 is provided with a lock hole 106 on the side wall, which cooperates with the door buckle 2. The size of the lock hole 106 is adapted to the size of the door buckle 2, so that the door buckle 2 can be inserted into the lock hole 106. The locking piece 104 is movably connected inside the mounting shell 101, and the top end surface of the locking piece 104 is provided with a locking groove 1041. The top cover 105 is connected to the top end of the mounting shell 101, and the heating element 103 is arranged on the inner surface of the top cover 105 corresponding to the position of the locking groove 1041. The shape memory alloy piece 102 is arranged on the heating element 103, and the shape memory alloy piece 102 is deformed by heating the heating element 103. The lower end of the shape memory alloy piece 102 is provided with a latch 1021 corresponding to the position of the locking groove 1041; when the shape memory alloy piece 102 is not heated and is in the original first form, the latch 1021 is away from the locking groove 1041; when the shape memory alloy piece 102 is heated and deformed to the second form, the latch 1021 is located in the locking groove 1041. The door buckle 2 is inserted into the lock hole 106 and connected with the locking piece 104.
[0054] Further, one end of the locking piece 104 is rotatably connected to the side wall of the mounting shell 101, and the other end of the locking piece 104 is a free end and extends to the inside of the lock hole 106. The bottom end surface of the locking piece 104 is provided with a clamping block 1042, and the top end surface of the locking piece 104 corresponding to the position of the clamping block 1042 is provided between the top cover 105. An elastic element 107 is arranged, so that the free end of the locking piece 104 is always kept in a depressed state by the elastic element 107, but when the free end of the locking piece 104 is forced, the elastic element 107 can be compressed to make the free end of the locking piece 104 lift up.
[0055] The door fastener 2 comprises an installation plate 201 and a plug-in plate 202 which are integrally formed and connected vertically together, the plug-in plate 202 is provided with a clamping groove 2021 matched with the clamping block 1042, and the plug-in plate 202 is inserted into the lock hole 106 to make the clamping block 1042 clamped with the clamping groove 2021. Specifically, when plugging in, the plug-in plate 202 is inserted from the lock hole 106, so that the end of the plug-in plate 202 is in contact with the free end of the locking member 104, and the plug-in plate 202 continues to push in, and the locking member 104 is inserted between the bottom surface of the installation shell 101 and the locking member 104, and the free end of the locking member 104 is lifted upward, and the elastic member 107 is compressed, until the clamping groove 2021 corresponds to the position of the clamping block 1042, the clamping block 1042 falls into the clamping groove 2021, and at this time the elastic member 107 restores the elongation state; when pulling out, the plug-in plate 202 is pulled out, the clamping block 1042 is forced to lift up by the pushing force of the side wall of the clamping groove 2021, so that the clamping block 1042 is separated from the clamping groove 2021, and at the same time the elastic member 107 is compressed, until the plug-in plate 202 is completely pulled out from the lock hole 106, and the elastic member 107 restores the original state to press down the free end of the locking member 104.
[0056] Further, the shape memory alloy member 102 is in a symmetrical structure as a whole, the shape memory alloy member 102 is integrally formed and connected by two horizontally placed m-shaped components which are mirror-symmetric, the top end of the shape memory alloy member 102 is provided with a first stationary contact 1022; the bottom of the locking groove 1041 is provided with a second stationary contact 1043; the inside of the plug pin 1021 is provided with a movable contact 1023, when the shape memory alloy member 102 is not heated and is in the original first form, the shape memory alloy member 102 is in a compressed state, the top end of the movable contact 1023 is connected with the first stationary contact 1022; when the shape memory alloy member 102 is heated and deformed to a second form, the shape memory alloy member 102 is in an elongated state, the plug pin 1021 is located in the locking groove 1041, so that the bottom end of the movable contact 1023 is connected with the second stationary contact 1043.
[0057] Specifically, the movable contact 1023 can adopt a conductive column with conductivity, which is arranged inside the plug pin and has two ends exposed from two ends of the plug pin 1021, so that when the plug pin 1021 is away from the locking groove 1041, the top end of the conductive column can be connected with the first stationary contact 1022, and when the plug pin 1021 is in the locking groove 1041, the bottom end of the conductive column can be connected with the second stationary contact 1043, thereby forming two different loops respectively. By connecting different colored indicator lights on different loops, different states of the door lock can be identified. In the embodiment of the present application, the movable contact adopts a conductive column without positive and negative poles, the top end and the bottom end of the conductive column are set as E terminal and D terminal respectively, and a C terminal is led out from the middle part of the conductive column, so that the C terminal of the conductive column is connected with the N terminal of the power supply through a wire, and the D terminal is connected with the L terminal of the power supply through a wire, so as to form a normally closed power-on first loop, and a yellow indicator light and a current limiting resistor are connected in series on the first loop; the first stationary contact 1022 is connected with the L terminal of the power supply through a wire to form a second loop, and a green indicator light is connected in series on the second loop; the second stationary contact 1043 is connected with the L terminal of the power supply through a wire to form a third loop, and a red indicator light is connected in series on the third loop; in addition, the heating element is connected on the working loop of the washing machine through a wire. The first stationary contact 1022 is set as B terminal, and the second stationary contact 1043 is set as A terminal, and the locking state of the washing machine door lock can be judged by the color of the indicator light.
[0058] As shown in Figures 6-11 , the washing machine is plugged in and in a power-on state, at this time, the start key is not pressed, therefore, the washing machine is in a standby state, the working loop in which the heating element 103 is located is not conducted, the heating element 103 has no current flowing through, and no heat is generated, at this time, the washing machine door cover can be opened to put dirty clothes into the washing machine, at the same time, the shape memory alloy piece 102 is not heated and is in the first shape of compression, the top end of the conductive column is connected with the first stationary contact 1022, which is equivalent to that the E terminal is connected with the B terminal, at this time, because the current limiting resistor is connected in series on the first loop, no current flows through the first loop, which is equivalent to that the second loop is short-circuited with the power supply, at this time, only the second loop in which the green light is located has current flowing through, the green light is on, and the yellow light is off, which indicates that the locking piece 104 is not in the locking state and the washing machine door cover can be freely opened. After the preparation is completed and the washing machine door cover is closed, the plug-in board 202 is inserted into the locking hole and is in Figure 7In the shown state, the start key is pressed, the working circuit of the washing machine is turned on, the current flows through the heating element 103 to make it generate heat and heat the shape memory alloy piece 102, after the shape memory alloy piece 102 is heated, the lower part of the shape memory alloy piece 102 starts to deform and elongate, in the process of the deformation and elongation of the lower part of the shape memory alloy piece 102, when the top end of the conductive column is separated from the first static contact point 1022 and the bottom end of the conductive column has not reached the second static contact point 1043 (the B and E terminals are disconnected and the D and A terminals are not connected), the second loop is disconnected, the first loop is turned back to the conducting state, at this time, the green indicator light is off and the yellow indicator light is on, indicating that the washing machine door lock is not in the locked state and needs to be waited, but the heating and deformation speed of the shape memory alloy piece 102 is very fast, so this process is very short, only 2-3s, indicating that the locking process of the locking piece 104 is very short. After a while, the shape memory alloy piece 102 deforms to the final second shape, at this time, the elongated shape memory alloy piece 102 tightly abuts the plug 1021 in the locking groove 1041, forming a downward pressure on the locking piece 104, realizing the locking effect of the locking piece 104, at this time, the plug plate 202 cannot be pulled out of the lock hole 106, and the plug plate 202 is locked in the lock hole 106, as shown in Fig. 6c. Figure 9At the same time, as shown, the bottom end of the conductive column is connected with the second static contact 1043 (D, A connection end is connected), and for the same reason, because the current limiting resistor of the first loop exists, no current passes through the first loop, but passes through the third loop, making the red indicator light on the third loop light up, indicating that the washing machine door lock is in a locked state and cannot be opened at this time. When the washing machine finishes work, the working circuit is automatically disconnected, the heating element 103 stops heating, and the shape memory alloy part 102 gradually cools down. In the process of gradually shrinking to the first shape, the bottom end of the conductive column is disconnected from the second static contact 1043, and the top end of the conductive column is not connected with the first static contact 1022. At this time, only the first loop is in a conductive state, so the red indicator light is off and the yellow indicator light is on. The temperature of the shape memory alloy part 102 is relatively slow, so the process of the latch 1021 disengaging the locking groove 1041 takes a certain amount of time. At this time, because the latch 1021 is not completely disengaged from the locking groove 1041, the door lock cannot be freely opened. Until the shape memory alloy part 1021 returns to the first shape, the top end of the conductive column is connected with the first static contact 1022, and the green indicator light is on, indicating that the door lock is in an unlocked state and can be freely opened. By slowly deforming the shape memory alloy part 102 to cool down, the opening time of the door cover after the washing machine finishes work is extended, achieving the effect of delayed opening. The function of the delayed opening of the washing machine is as follows: first, it protects the washing machine. If the door cover of the washing machine is forcibly opened before the washing machine cools down, the internal parts of the washing machine will overheat and be damaged, affecting the service life of the washing machine. Delayed opening can gradually reduce the temperature inside the washing machine, reducing the risk of heating of the washing machine parts and prolonging the service life of the washing machine; second, delayed opening can gradually reduce the temperature inside the washing machine, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the washing machine and saving electricity; third, delayed opening can gradually reduce the temperature inside the washing machine, thereby reducing the risk of cold clothes and improving the washing effect.
[0059] In addition, for further improvement, the heating element 103 can be connected in series to an automatic periodic on-off circuit, which is connected in parallel to the working circuit of the washing machine and shares a starting switch with the working circuit of the washing machine. When the washing machine is working, the starting switch is turned on, the working circuit is powered on, and the washing machine performs washing and other operations. The automatic periodic on-off circuit connected in parallel with the working circuit also starts to perform periodic on-off operation to periodically heat the heating element. Because the automatic periodic on-off circuit is connected in parallel with the washing working circuit, even when the automatic periodic on-off circuit performs the off operation, it will not affect the washing work of the washing machine. The automatic periodic on-off circuit has the functions of automatically turning on and off the circuit, and has a small switch inside. In order to realize periodic on-off, the switch is designed to automatically turn off and turn on once every certain period of time, and a temperature sensor is designed to detect the heating element 103 or the shape memory alloy piece 102. When the temperature of the heating element 103 or the shape memory alloy piece 102 is too high, the switch is turned off to stop heating. When the temperature reaches a certain value, the switch is turned on again to heat. In this way, periodic on-off can avoid continuous heating of the heating element 103, which may cause the temperature to be too high and pose a potential danger. The automatic periodic on-off circuit can use the existing circuit in the prior art, but a heating element is connected in series to the existing periodic on-off circuit. Those skilled in the art can understand and implement it according to the common knowledge of series circuits, and there is no technical obstacle.
[0060] In the embodiment of the present application, the shape memory alloy piece 102 is used as a component to drive the moving contact 1023 to move. Compared with the door lock using a motor or an electromagnetic coil as a driving device, the shape memory alloy piece 102 can be processed into a component with a smaller volume, but is reliable in operation, and can fully meet the requirements of simplifying the volume of the door lock, simple driving, and safety and reliability. The shape memory alloy material has a unique memory effect, and can realize a shape memory function in a certain temperature range. When the shape memory alloy material is heated to a certain temperature, its original shape will recover to a specific shape set during heat treatment. The shape memory alloy piece in the embodiment of the present application utilizes this unique memory effect. When in a normal state, the shape memory alloy piece 102 is in a first shape in a compressed state. After being heated, the shape memory alloy piece 102 starts to deform, and is expanded from the middle to the upper and lower sides from the original m-shaped structure. The top end and the lower end of the shape memory alloy piece 102 always remain parallel to each other, and the top end of the shape memory alloy piece 102 is fixed. When the middle of the shape memory alloy piece 102 is expanded, the lower end moves downward, thereby pushing the latch 1021 into the locking groove 1041, and completing a locking action. When cooled, the shape memory alloy piece 102 gradually recovers to the original shape, drives the latch 1021 to move out of the locking groove 1041, and releases the locking state. The driving process is simple and effective. In addition, the shape memory alloy material has good elasticity, can withstand a large amount of deformation and stress, and is not easy to break. Compared with a bimetallic strip, the shape memory alloy material has strong toughness and a long service life. The shape memory alloy piece has good plasticity and processability, and can be conveniently processed into parts of various shapes and sizes, and is very suitable for devices or equipment with a requirement of simplifying the volume, such as a washing machine door lock.
[0061] Further, the lower end surface of the top cover 105 is provided with first connecting plates 1051 on both sides, the bottom end of the first connecting plate 1051 is provided with a clamping hook, and the side wall of the mounting shell 101 is provided with a clamping hole 1011 matched with the clamping hook. When connected, the top cover 105 is covered on the top end of the mounting shell 101, and the first connecting plates 1051 are respectively aligned with the clamping holes 1011 on the side wall of the mounting shell 101, and the clamping hooks are clamped in the clamping holes 1011.
[0062] The lower end surface of the top cover 105 is provided with a mounting groove 1052, the top end of the shape memory alloy piece 102 is fixedly connected to one end of the mounting groove 1052 close to the locking piece 104, the heating element 103 is arranged in the mounting groove 1052 between the shape memory alloy piece 102 and the top cover 105, and the heating element 103 is in close contact with the top end of the shape memory alloy piece 102. Specifically, the top end of the shape memory alloy piece 102 is respectively inserted into the opposite two side walls of the mounting groove 1052, so that the top end surface of the shape memory alloy piece 102 corresponds to the lower bottom surface of the mounting groove 1052, and the bottom end of the heating element 103 is directly in close contact with the top end of the shape memory alloy piece 102, thereby heating the shape memory alloy piece 102.
[0063] The upper end surface of the top cover 105 is provided with an upper surrounding plate 1053 extending upward, the upper surrounding plate 1053 and the upper end surface of the top cover 105 form a wire slot, the wire slot bottom surface is provided with a plurality of wire outlet holes 1054 close to one end of the lock hole 106, the wire slot bottom surface is provided with a plurality of arched limiting holes 1055 in the middle, the limiting holes 1055 are used for passing through the wires of different circuits, so as to distinguish and identify the wires, and the upper surrounding plate 1053 opposite to the lock hole 106 is provided with a plurality of terminal pieces 1056, the terminal pieces 1056 are used for connecting the wires of the contact and the wires of the power supply.
[0064] The side wall of the mounting shell 101 is provided with a rotating shaft hole 1012. The locking piece 104 includes an integrated connection of an inclined part and a parallel part, the two sides of the top end of the inclined part are provided with rotating shafts 1044 matched with the rotating shaft hole 1012, the locking groove 1041 and the clamping block 1042 are arranged on the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the parallel part respectively, the top end surface of the parallel part above the clamping block 1042 is provided with a positioning groove 1045, and the bottom end of the elastic piece 107 is located in the positioning groove 1045. Wherein, the inclined part and the parallel part are relative to the bottom surface of the mounting shell 101, that is, when the plug-in plate 202 is not inserted, the locking piece 104 is in the original state, or when the plug-in plate 202 is inserted and fully inserted with the locking piece 104, the parallel part is parallel to the bottom surface of the mounting shell 101, and the inclined part is inclined to the bottom surface of the mounting shell 101.
[0065] The lower surface of the top cover 105 is provided with a fixed groove 1057 corresponding in position to the positioning groove 1045, and the top end of the elastic piece 107 is fixedly connected in the fixed groove 1057. The elastic piece 107 is fixedly connected to one end of the locking piece 104 close to the lock hole 106 through the positioning and fixing actions of the positioning groove 1045 and the fixed groove 1057, so as to avoid the situation that the elastic piece 107 is displaced and cannot be restored to the original state when the locking piece 104 is forced to move.
[0066] The clamping block 1042 is provided with a first inclined surface on the side close to the lock hole 106, and the clamping groove 2021 is provided with a second inclined surface on the side wall end face away from the mounting plate 201. When the clamping block 1042 is clamped in the clamping groove 2021, the clamping block 1042 is more easily inserted into the clamping groove 2021, and under the action of the pulling force, the clamping block 1042 is more easily separated from the clamping groove 2021.
[0067] Further, the heating element 103 is a thermal resistance. Or other existing heat-generating components are used.
[0068] Further, the elastic member 107 is a spring.
[0069] Further, it further includes a protective shell 3, the protective shell 3 includes a bottom shell 301 and an upper cover 302; the middle part of the bottom shell 301 is provided with a containing groove, the opposite two side walls of the containing groove are provided with outward protruding limiting grooves 3011, and the outer side wall of the containing groove is provided with a plurality of protrusions 3012; the mounting shell 101 is arranged in the containing groove, and the outer side wall of the mounting shell 101 is provided with limiting blocks 1013 matched with the limiting grooves 3011; the lower end face of the upper cover 302 is provided with a plurality of second connecting plates 3021 corresponding in position to the protrusions 3012, and the bottom end of the second connecting plate 3021 is provided with a connecting hole 3022 matched with the protrusion 3012. Through the cooperation of the limiting grooves 3011 and the limiting blocks 1013, the mounting shell 101 is limited in the containing groove, so that it cannot move to one end of the terminal lug or one end of the lock hole 106 under the action of the pushing force or the pulling force.
[0070] Embodiment 2
[0071] The embodiment of the present application provides a washing machine, which comprises a washing machine door cover and a washing machine main body, and further comprises the washing machine door lock as described in the embodiment 1, the door buckle 2 is fixedly connected to the washing machine door cover, the locking assembly 1 is installed on the washing machine main body, when the washing machine door cover is closed on the washing machine column body, one end of the door buckle 2 towards the washing machine main body is inserted into the lock hole of the locking assembly 1.
[0072] Specifically, the door buckle 2 is fixedly connected to the washing machine door cover through the mounting plate 201, and the locking assembly 1 is installed on the washing machine main body through the protective shell 3.
[0073] Although the present application has been disclosed with the preferred embodiments as above, it is not intended to limit the present application. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the scope defined by the claims.
Claims
1. A washing machine door lock comprising a locking assembly (1) and a door fastener (2), characterized in that, The locking assembly comprises a mounting shell (101), a shape memory alloy piece (102), a heating element (103), a locking piece (104) and a top cover (105); One end of the mounting shell (101) is provided with a lock hole (106) matched with a door buckle (2); The locking piece (104) is movably connected inside the mounting shell (101), and the top end surface of the locking piece (104) is provided with a locking groove (1041); The top cover (105) is connected to the top end of the mounting shell (101), and the heating element (103) is arranged on the inner surface of the top cover (105) corresponding to the position of the locking groove (1041); The shape memory alloy piece (102) is arranged on the heating element (103), and the lower end of the shape memory alloy piece (102) is provided with a latch (1021) corresponding to the position of the locking groove (1041); when the shape memory alloy piece (102) is in the original first shape, the latch (1021) is away from the locking groove (1041); when the shape memory alloy piece (102) is deformed to the second shape by heating, the latch (1021) is located in the locking groove (1041); The door buckle (2) is inserted into the lock hole (106) and connected with the locking piece (104); The shape memory alloy piece (102) is integrally formed by two horizontally arranged m-shaped components in mirror image symmetry, and the top end of the shape memory alloy piece (102) is provided with a first static contact point (1022); The bottom of the locking groove (1041) is provided with a second static contact point (1043); The inside of the latch (1021) is provided with a dynamic contact point (1023); when the shape memory alloy piece (102) is not heated and is in the original first shape, the shape memory alloy piece (102) is in a compressed state, and the top end of the dynamic contact point (1023) is connected with the first static contact point (1022); when the shape memory alloy piece (102) is deformed to the second shape by heating, the shape memory alloy piece (102) is in an elongated state, the latch (1021) is located in the locking groove (1041), and the bottom end of the dynamic contact point (1023) is connected with the second static contact point (1043).
2. A door lock for a washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein One end of the locking piece (104) is rotatably connected to the side wall of the mounting shell (101), the other end of the locking piece (104) is a free end and extends to the inside of the lock hole (106), and the bottom end surface of the locking piece (104) is provided with a clamping block (1042); the top end surface of the locking piece (104) corresponding to the position of the clamping block (1042) is provided with an elastic element (107) between the top cover (105); The door fastener (2) comprises an installation plate (201) and a plug-in plate (202) integrally formed and connected vertically, the plug-in plate (202) is provided with a clamping groove (2021) matched with the clamping block (1042), and the plug-in plate (202) is inserted into the lock hole (106) to make the clamping block (1042) clamped with the clamping groove (2021).
3. The washing machine door lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, First connecting plates (1051) are arranged on both sides of the lower end surface of the top cover (105), the bottom end of the first connecting plate (1051) is provided with a clamping hook, and the side wall of the installation shell (101) is provided with a clamping hole (1011) matched with the clamping hook. The lower end surface of the top cover (105) is provided with an installation groove (1052), the top end of the shape memory alloy piece (102) is fixedly connected to one end of the installation groove (1052) close to the locking piece (104), the heating element (103) is arranged in the installation groove (1052) between the shape memory alloy piece (102) and the top cover (105), and the heating element (103) is attached to the top end of the shape memory alloy piece (102). The upper end surface of the top cover (105) is provided with an upper surrounding plate (1053) extending upwards, the upper surrounding plate (1053) and the upper end surface of the top cover (105) form a wire slot, a plurality of wire outlet holes (1054) are arranged on one end of the wire slot bottom surface close to the lock hole (106), a plurality of arched limiting holes (1055) are arranged in the middle of the wire slot bottom surface, and a plurality of terminal pieces (1056) are arranged on the upper surrounding plate (1053) opposite to the lock hole (106).
4. The washing machine door lock according to claim 2, characterized in that, The side wall of the installation shell (101) is provided with a rotating shaft hole (1012). The locking piece (104) comprises an integral connection of an inclined part and a parallel part, the top end of the inclined part is provided with a rotating shaft (1044) matched with the rotating shaft hole (1012), the locking groove (1041) and the clamping block (1042) are arranged on the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the parallel part respectively, the top surface of the parallel part above the clamping block (1042) is provided with a positioning groove (1045), and the bottom end of the elastic piece (107) is located in the positioning groove (1045). The inner surface of the top cover (105) is provided with a fixing groove (1057) corresponding to the position of the positioning groove (1045), and the top end of the elastic piece (107) is fixedly connected in the fixing groove (1057).
5. The washing machine door lock according to claim 2, characterized in that, The side surface of the clamping block (1042) close to the lock hole (106) is arranged as a first inclined surface, and the side wall end surface of the clamping groove (2021) away from the installation plate (201) is arranged as a second inclined surface.
6. The laundry machine door lock of claim 1, wherein The heating element (103) is a thermal resistance.
7. The washing machine door lock according to claim 2, characterized in that, The elastic piece (107) is a spring.
8. The washing machine door lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, Further comprising a protective shell (3), the protective shell (3) comprises a bottom shell (301) and an upper cover (302); The middle part of the bottom shell (301) is provided with a containing groove, the opposite two side walls of the containing groove are provided with outward protruding limiting grooves (3011), and the outer side wall of the containing groove is provided with a plurality of protrusions (3012). The mounting shell (101) is arranged in the accommodating groove, and a limiting block (1013) matched with the limiting groove (3011) is arranged on the outer side wall of the mounting shell (101); The lower end surface of the upper cover (302) is provided with a plurality of second connecting plates (3021) corresponding to the positions of the protrusions (3012), and the bottom end of each second connecting plate (3021) is provided with a connecting hole (3022) matched with the protrusion (3012).
9. A laundry machine comprising a laundry machine door cover and a laundry machine main body, characterized in that, The laundry machine door lock also comprises a door buckle (2) fixedly connected to the laundry machine door cover, and a locking assembly (1) installed on the laundry machine body, wherein when the laundry machine door cover is closed on the laundry machine body, one end of the door buckle (2) towards the laundry machine body is inserted into the lock hole (106) of the locking assembly (1).
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Novel intelligent cabinet electronic lock
CN108798298A
Washing machine door lock
CN111197432A