Cable-Drum Door Mechanism for Controlled Appliance Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances, such as dishwashers, face challenges in providing a robust and space-efficient door opening mechanism that can prevent uncontrolled opening and ensure secure pivoting while minimizing the risk of injury and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A door opening mechanism utilizing a cable drum connected to an electric motor, a spring element, and friction elements, which allows for direct power transmission and automatic pivoting with a minimal number of components, ensuring secure and controlled door movement while allowing for manual operation with reduced motor power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cable and spring mechanism is used to counteract door weight, then the door can be prevented from falling open, but the mechanism becomes complex and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cable drum, spring element, and friction element into a single integrated mechanism. The cable drum serves both to wind the cable for door support and to house the spring element that provides counteracting force, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable drum is designed to perform multiple functions: it winds the cable to support the door, houses the spring element that counteracts door weight, and works with the friction element to control door movement. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the system.
2Reliability
If friction elements are added to impede door swinging, then uncontrolled opening is prevented, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The friction element is integrated into the existing cable drum mechanism rather than being a separate component. The friction element works in conjunction with the spring element and cable drum to provide controlled resistance to door movement, allowing the system to maintain reliability while minimizing additional structural complexity.
3Ease of operation
If an electric motor drive is used for automatic door opening, then convenience is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is pre-tensioned to counteract the door weight, creating a balanced system where the motor only needs to provide minimal force to initiate and complete door movement. The motor acts as an assistive device rather than having to overcome the full door weight, significantly reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element provides automatic counterbalancing of the door weight without requiring motor intervention. The friction element also provides passive resistance to uncontrolled movement, allowing the system to maintain door position and control without continuous motor power input.
4Reliability
If a robust door opening mechanism is provided with direct force transmission, then reliability is improved, but the space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is nested within the cable drum structure, and the friction element is integrated into the same assembly. This nesting arrangement allows the mechanism to provide direct force transmission through the cable drum while occupying minimal space within the housing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The mechanism provides a robust, space-saving, and secure door opening system that prevents uncontrolled opening, reduces the risk of injury, and allows for efficient energy use by compensating for the door's weight with a spring element and applying frictional forces, enabling automatic and manual operation with low motor power.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element, a rope connected at one end to the door and at the other end to the spring element
Implementation Method 2
friction elements, which allows for direct power transmission and automatic pivoting with a minimal number of components, ensuring secure and controlled door movement
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a domestic appliance (1), in particular a water-conducting domestic appliance, having a housing (16), a door (3) pivotably connected to the housing (16), a cable (17) which is connected at one end (18) to the door (3), a motor (19), and a cable drum (23), to which the cable (17) can be at least partially unwound and from which the cable (17) can be at least partially unwound, wherein the cable (17) and the motor (19) are designed to perform a pivoting movement of the door (3) by winding the cable (17) onto the cable drum (23) or by unwinding the cable (17) from the cable drum (23).