Household Appliance Door Lock Circuit With Three-Contact Interlock
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door locks for household appliances require a large number of connection contacts, leading to increased construction space and production costs, and suffer from operational reliability issues, particularly when the actuator is activated without ensuring the door is closed, which can result in faulty operation and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A door lock design utilizing only three connection contacts, with a series connection of a door contact switch, an electromagnetic actuator, and a locking contact switch, ensuring the actuator is activated only when the door is closed, reducing the number of components and construction space, and enhancing operational reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large number of connection contacts are used in the door lock, then the door lock can provide comprehensive detection and control functions, but the construction space and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the door contact switch and locking contact switch into a single integrated component structure. The door contact switch detects door closure state while the locking contact switch detects locked state, and both are integrated with the electromagnetic actuator in one housing, reducing the number of separate connection contacts needed while maintaining comprehensive detection and control functions
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic actuator serves multiple functions: it acts as the locking mechanism itself, provides the magnetic field for actuation, and works in conjunction with the contact switches to provide both detection and control functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and connection contacts
2Speed
If the actuator can be activated without door closed detection, then the response time is faster, but safety hazards and faulty operations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The door contact switch is designed to detect door closure state before the electromagnetic actuator can be activated. The circuit configuration ensures that the actuator only receives power when the door is confirmed closed, preventing unsafe operation while maintaining fast response time when the door is properly closed
Solution Approach 2:
The door contact switch acts as an intermediary between the door state and the electromagnetic actuator. It mediates the activation condition by providing electrical continuity only when the door is closed, thereby preventing direct activation of the actuator under unsafe conditions while allowing rapid response when conditions are appropriate
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 simplifies production, reduces costs, and improves reliability by ensuring the actuator is only activated when the door is closed, preventing potential safety hazards and faulty operations.
Implementation Method 1
a door lock design utilizing only three connection contacts, with a series connection of a door contact switch, an electromagnetic actuator, and a locking contact switch
Data Source
AI summary
Door lock for a door of a household appliance with a first device for detecting a closed state of the door, and a second device for locking the door, wherein the first and second devices are electrically connected in series.