Door lock assembly and electrical equipment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door lock assemblies for electrical appliances, such as dishwashers, require high bias forces and are not compact, as the force acting point is often on the outer side of the slider, leading to unnecessary torque and inefficient space utilization, and they lack flexibility in mounting within the appliance's structure.
Innovation Solution
A door lock assembly with a slider gear and rotating bias device, where the slider gear engages with a rack to drive the slider, allowing for uniform bias force application and flexible mounting, enabling automatic door opening and closing with reduced operational force and improved space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the force acting point is located on the outer side of the slider, then the door lock assembly can be mounted flexibly, but a large bias force is required and unnecessary torque is exerted on the slider
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the force acting point from the outer side (one-dimensional positioning) to the center of the moving path (spatial repositioning in the same plane), which eliminates the generation of unnecessary torque while preserving mounting flexibility. This dimensional repositioning resolves the contradiction by changing the spatial relationship between the force application point and the slider's movement path.
2Volume of moving object
If the door lock box is made compact to save space, then space utilization is improved, but the driving device cannot be rigidly connected to the slider
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible connection mechanism between the driving device and the slider, replacing rigid mechanical connections with a more compact flexible coupling. This allows the door lock box to be made smaller while maintaining the functional connection between the driving device and slider through the flexible element that can accommodate reduced space constraints.
3Ease of operation
If the slider gear rotates to drive the door lock slider, then the door can be opened to intermediate positions for heat dissipation, but the bias device must overcome additional torque when the force acting point is on the outer side
Solution Approach 1:
By repositioning the force acting point to the center of the slider's moving path, the patent eliminates the torque arm that would otherwise require additional power from the bias device. This spatial optimization reduces the power requirement while maintaining the automatic door control function that enables intermediate positioning for heat dissipation.
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 allows for efficient, automatic door control with reduced bias force requirements, flexible mounting arrangements, and improved operational simplicity, enhancing the usability and compactness of the door lock assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the slider gear engages with the door lock slider rack, and the slider gear and the door lock slider rack are configured such that: when the slider gear rotates about the rotating shaft in a first rotation direction or a second rotation direction, the door lock slider reciprocates in the first linear direction or the second linear direction
Implementation Method 2
the bias device is configured to drive the slider gear, such that the slider gear drives the door lock slider in the second linear direction
Data Source
AI summary
A door lock assembly includes a door lock slider, a slider gear and a bias device. The door lock slider reciprocates in a first linear direction and a second linear direction along the length of the door lock slider. The door lock slider includes a slider body provided with a slider groove in a length direction of the door lock slider body. The slider groove is provided with a slider rack. The slider gear is mounted in the slider groove and rotates about a rotating shaft. The slider gear engages with the door lock slider rack. When the slider gear rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, the door lock slider reciprocates in the first linear direction or the second linear direction. The bias device is configured to drive the slider gear which drives the door lock slider in the second linear direction.