Household Door Opener With Variable Rack-and-Pinion Force Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliance door opening mechanisms face challenges in overcoming initial resistance, such as door locks and magnetic seals, requiring varying force levels, which existing actuator mechanisms often address by using oversized motors, compromising speed and user comfort.
Innovation Solution
A variable power transmission mechanism between the electric motor and the coupling part allows for different path speeds, adapting to non-uniform force requirements by changing gear configurations along the range of motion, enabling quick door opening without an oversized motor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If an oversized electric motor is used to overcome initial resistance, then the force capability is improved, but the opening speed and user comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a variable transmission ratio mechanism that dynamically adjusts the force and speed characteristics during the door opening process. The transmission ratio changes as a function of the coupling element's position, providing high force at the beginning (to overcome initial resistance) and higher speed later in the movement, thus resolving the contradiction between force capability and opening speed without requiring an oversized motor.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the transmission ratio parameter throughout the operating range. By using a transmission mechanism where the ratio between input and output speeds/forces varies continuously or in stages based on position, the system optimizes both force delivery and speed performance across different phases of door opening, eliminating the need for excessive motor power while maintaining high opening speed.
2Device complexity
If a constant transmission ratio is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to adapt to varying force requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a transmission mechanism with variable transmission ratio that adapts to varying force requirements during door opening. The ratio changes based on the coupling element's position, providing high force multiplication when needed (at the beginning of movement) and lower ratio later, thereby achieving adaptability without excessive complexity through a well-designed mechanical or electromechanical transmission system.
3Force
If high force is applied throughout the entire opening process, then the initial resistance is overcome, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the transmission ratio parameter throughout the operating range to optimize energy consumption. By providing high force multiplication only when necessary (during the initial phase when resistance is highest) and reducing the effective force transmission ratio in later phases, the system minimizes energy consumption while still successfully overcoming initial resistance and completing the door opening motion.
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 actuator mechanism ensures user comfort by quickly opening doors while maintaining efficient energy use, adapting force application to overcome initial resistance and maintain speed throughout the opening process.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor, a coupling part that can be driven by the electric motor within a limited range of motion, in particular linearly
Implementation Method 2
a force transmission mechanism between the electric motor and the coupling part
Implementation Method 3
for coupling with the movable component in a thrust- and/or tension-transmitting manner
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a door opener (18) for a household electrical appliance. The door opener comprises an electric motor (30) and a push button (36) driven by the electric motor for pressing action against the door of the electrical appliance. A force transmission mechanism (32) is provided between the electric motor and the push button, which is capable of ensuring a variable linear speed of the push button at a constant speed of the electric motor. Certain embodiments provide for this purpose a multi-stage rack and pinion drive, which is formed by a gear ring (42) and a rack (38) that can transmit the driving force of the electric motor to the push button via various gear pairs that can be alternately meshed.