Damper opening/closing device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing damper opening/closing devices require electrical power storage means for operation and are complex, with potential failure modes and insufficient energy storage leading to incomplete damper closure during power outages.
Innovation Solution
A damper opening/closing device that uses a retention mechanism with an electromagnetic chuck to maintain an open state during power supply and a return mechanism to reopen after power restoration, allowing manual closure during power outages without electrical power storage, utilizing a single motor for both operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical power storage means is used to close the damper during power outages, then the damper can be closed without external power, but the device complexity increases due to charging circuits, discharging circuits, and relay switches
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the electrical power storage means (capacitors, batteries) and associated charging/discharging circuits from the system. Instead, it uses a purely mechanical spring-loaded plunger mechanism that requires no electrical components for closure operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability during power outage and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the electrical system (power storage means, relays, solenoids) with a mechanical system (spring-loaded plunger). The spring mechanism provides the force needed to close the damper during power outages without requiring any electrical power storage components, thus eliminating circuit complexity while maintaining closure reliability
2Device complexity
If a single electrical power storage means is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases because the damper cannot be closed if the power storage means is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the electrical power storage means entirely from the system and replaces it with a mechanical spring mechanism. This eliminates the single point of failure associated with a single capacitor or battery, providing inherent redundancy through the mechanical design where the spring can be manually reset if damaged
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded plunger mechanism is designed to be manually resettable. If the spring becomes damaged or depleted, a person can manually wind or reset the spring to restore functionality, providing a self-service capability that maintains reliability without requiring complex redundant electrical power storage systems
3Device complexity
If the electrical power storage means has small charge capacity, then the device complexity is reduced, but the damper cannot be closed due to insufficient energy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the electrical energy storage system with a mechanical spring energy storage system. The spring can be manually wound to store sufficient mechanical energy for damper closure, providing adequate energy availability without the complexity of electrical power storage means. The mechanical spring can store and release the necessary energy for reliable damper operation
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is designed to be pre-loaded or manually wound before power outage occurs. This preliminary action of winding the spring stores the necessary energy in advance, ensuring sufficient energy is available for damper closure when needed, without requiring complex real-time energy management systems
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
Ensures reliable closure and reopening of air supply ports without electrical power storage, simplifying the system and reducing power consumption, while maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a retention mechanism (20) that retains the opening/closing lid (18) and places the opening (12) in an open state during a period in which supply of electrical power is being carried out
Data Source
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AI summary
A damper opening/closing device (10) comprises an opening/closing lid (18), a retention mechanism (20), and a return mechanism (24). The retention mechanism (20) retains the opening/closing lid (18) to place an opening (12) in an open state while power is being supplied, and releases the retention of the opening/closing lid (18) to place the opening (12) in a closed state when the power supply stops. The return mechanism (24) returns the opening/closing lid (18) to a state of retention by the retention mechanism (20) when the opening/closing lid (18) is in a closed state while power is being supplied.