Door Closer Check Valve with Contactless Magnetic Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional check valves in door closers require high actuating forces, are prone to wear and leaks, and often need external power supplies, making them complex and costly, while 'normally open' valves struggle with high actuating forces and low pressure switching.
Innovation Solution
A door closer with a check valve system using magnetic elements to control the actuator's position, allowing a low-actuating force operation with a normally closed valve characteristic, sealed from the environment, and integrated into a door closer mechanism without external power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual actuation is used to operate the check valve, then the valve can be controlled, but high actuating forces are required and wear occurs at contact points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical actuation system with a magnetic field-based actuation system. Instead of using mechanical contact between a valve-regulating component and the blocking body, the invention uses magnetic attraction forces generated by a magnet in the trigger to move the blocking body against the sealing surface. This eliminates mechanical wear at contact points while providing reliable control of the check valve.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the trigger and the blocking body. The magnet in the trigger creates a magnetic field that acts on the ferromagnetic blocking body through the partition wall, enabling force transmission without direct mechanical contact. This intermediary magnetic field resolves the contradiction by providing contactless actuation.
2Ease of operation
If electromagnetic valves are used, then control is improved, but external power supply and switching units are required making the system bulkier and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a permanent magnet instead of an electromagnetic coil, eliminating the need for external power supply and switching units. The permanent magnet provides a static magnetic field that can be switched on and off by mechanical engagement or disengagement of the trigger, significantly simplifying the system while maintaining control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical control system (electromagnetic valve with power supply and switching unit) with a magnetic field-based control system using a permanent magnet. This substitution eliminates complex electrical components while providing reliable control of the check valve through magnetic attraction forces.
3Ease of operation
If 'normally open' check valves are used, then the valve opens easily, but high actuating forces are required and only low pressures can be switched
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional 'normally open' valve concept by designing a 'normally closed' check valve where the blocking body is held against the sealing surface by a spring, and opening is achieved through magnetic attraction. This inversion allows the valve to handle high pressures effectively while maintaining easy opening through magnetic actuation, resolving the contradiction between opening ease and pressure switching capability.
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 solution provides a reliable, low-maintenance, cost-effective, and space-efficient check valve system that can handle high pressures and volume flows with minimal wear and no leaks, ensuring a stable locking position without external power.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the magnetic elements has a permanent magnet and the other magnetic element has a permanent magnet or a ferromagnet, wherein in a first state of the trigger, no magnetic force or a first magnetic force acts between the magnetic elements
Implementation Method 2
an actuator integrated into the housing, with a sealing body that can form a sealing seat with the housing around a first opening
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a door closer with a driver and a check valve (1). The check valve is equipped with a housing (10) having at least two openings (11, 12) through which a working medium can flow through the check valve (1), an actuator (20) which is integrated into the housing (10), a sealing body (22) which can form a sealing seat with the housing (10) around a first opening (11), and a first magnetic element (21), and a trigger (30) which is arranged outside the housing (10) and hermetically separated from the actuator (20), has a second magnetic element (31), and can assume at least two states in order to open and close the check valve. The driver (202) is connected to the trigger (30) of the check valve (1) in order to bring it into the first or second state.