Door locking device, particularly for electrical household appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door-locking devices for electrical household appliances lack a compact and reliable geometry, and are prone to external magnetic interference, which affects their accuracy and cost-effectiveness compared to direct-voltage solutions using motors or solenoids.
Innovation Solution
A door-locking device featuring a yoke of magnetically conductive material with a permanent magnet and two electromagnets, along with a rocking keeper that moves between positions to control the locking pin, providing improved accuracy and immunity to external magnetic fields while maintaining a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a permanent magnet with two electromagnets and a rocking keeper is used, then immunity from external magnetic fields and accuracy of movement are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces a purely mechanical locking system with an electromechanical system that uses magnetic fields (permanent magnet and electromagnets) to control the locking pin through a rocking keeper, providing immunity from external magnetic fields while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The rocking keeper acts as an intermediary mechanism between the electromagnets and the locking pin, translating electromagnetic forces into precise mechanical movement while shielding the system from external magnetic interference
2Measurement precision
If a permanent magnet with two electromagnets and a rocking keeper is used, then accuracy of movement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: a permanent magnet for baseline magnetic field, two electromagnets for controlled activation, and a rocking keeper for precise positional transitions, enabling accurate movement control
Solution Approach 2:
The rocking keeper provides dynamic movement between defined positions (locked and unlocked states), allowing precise control of the locking pin's position through controlled rocking motion activated by the electromagnets
3Volume of moving object
If a compact design is achieved with multiple magnetic components, then dimensions are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the permanent magnet and two electromagnets into a single integrated magnetic assembly that shares common structural elements (yoke, core), reducing overall dimensions while maintaining the functionality of multiple magnetic components
Solution Approach 2:
The design nests components within each other - the electromagnet cores are positioned around the permanent magnet, and the rocking keeper pivots within the magnetic assembly, achieving compact packaging of multiple functional elements
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 enhances the accuracy and reliability of the door-locking mechanism, reduces costs, and improves dimensions compared to traditional direct-voltage solutions, ensuring effective locking and unlocking operations.
Implementation Method 1
two electromagnets arranged on opposite sides of the magnet part, each electromagnet comprising a core of magnetically conductive material fixed to the yoke, and a solenoid wound to the core
Implementation Method 2
a magnet part fixed to the yoke and comprising a permanent magnet polarized in a direction substantially perpendicular to the yoke
Implementation Method 3
a rocking keeper of magnetically conductive material, comprising two arms connected at an angle to each other through a corner portion of the keeper, said corner portion resting on a support surface of the magnet part in such a way that the keeper is able to rock around the corner portion, between a first and a second position in contact with one or the other of the cores of the electromagnets
Data Source
AI summary
Door-locking device (1) comprising an electromechanical control device (10), which includes a locking pin (11) adapted to cooperate with a movable latching slider (7) for locking a door of an electric household appliance. The control device comprises a yoke (21), a magnet part (22) fixed to the yoke (21) and comprising a permanent magnet (23) polarized along a direction substantially perpendicular to the yoke (21), two electromagnets (26) arranged on opposite sides of the magnet part (22), and a rocking keeper (29) comprising two arms (29a, 29b) connected at an angle to each other, the keeper resting on a supporting surface (25) of the magnet part (22) so as to be able to rock between a first and a second position respectively in contact with one or the other of the cores (27) of the electromagnets (26).