Door Opener Retaining Body Geometry to Prevent Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door openers provide insufficient holding force and are prone to jamming, particularly under preload, leading to unreliable door opening.
Innovation Solution
A door opener design that utilizes rotationally symmetrical retaining elements slidably mounted in a body receptacle, with forces divided into displacement and holding components, ensuring the holding force is greater than the displacement force, preventing jamming and enhancing opening reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional retaining elements are used in door openers, then the structure is simple, but the holding force is insufficient and jamming occurs under preload
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining element is designed as a rotationally symmetrical body (spherical or cylindrical shape) that can rotate and slide within the retaining element receptacle. This curved geometry allows the retaining element to convert linear motion into rotational motion, enabling smooth movement without jamming while maintaining high holding force through friction and geometric constraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining element is made dynamically movable within the receptacle, transitioning between locked and unlocked states through rotational and sliding motions. This dynamic design allows the system to adapt to load variations and prevent jamming by enabling the retaining element to self-adjust its position under preload conditions.
2Force
If the retaining element is firmly fixed to prevent movement, then holding force increases, but the door opener becomes prone to jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The rotationally symmetrical geometry of the retaining element enables it to rotate and slide smoothly within the receptacle while maintaining firm engagement. The curved surfaces distribute contact forces evenly, preventing stress concentration and jamming, while the geometric constraint maintains high holding force through friction and mechanical interlocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state parameters of the retaining element between locked and unlocked positions through controlled rotational and sliding motions. The retaining element can transition between different engagement depths and orientations, allowing the system to adjust the holding force parameter dynamically while maintaining smooth operation.
3Reliability
If the retaining element can move freely, then jamming is reduced, but the holding force decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotationally symmetrical shape provides inherent stability and centering within the receptacle, preventing erratic movements that could lead to jamming. The curved geometry maintains consistent contact forces while allowing controlled motion, ensuring both reliable jamming prevention and sufficient holding force through friction and geometric constraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining element's dynamic movement is constrained within specific rotational and sliding ranges that maintain engagement with the receptacle walls. This controlled dynamics allows the element to move freely enough to prevent jamming while maintaining sufficient contact force to provide adequate holding capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a door opener with a housing, a latch element and a switchable locking device, wherein the latch element is movably mounted in the housing between a closed position and an open position, wherein the switchable locking device selectively locks the latch element in the closed position or releases it for movement into the open position, wherein the switchable locking device comprises at least one rotationally symmetrical retaining body which is slidably mounted in a body receptacle of the housing in a respective direction of displacement force, and wherein the latch element is mechanically connected to the respective retaining body in such a way that when the latch element moves from the closed position to the open position, the respective retaining body is slidable in the body receptacle.The respective holding body can be acted upon by a respective force of motion generated during a movement of the trap element into the opening position in a respective direction of motion such that the respective force of motion is divided into a respective displacement force along the respective displacement force direction for displacing the respective holding body in the body receptacle and a respective holding force in a respective holding force direction transverse, in particular perpendicular, to the respective displacement force direction for introducing it into a wall of the body receptacle, wherein the respective holding force is greater than the respective displacement force.