Electric Drive Window Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric drive systems for window-related elements face challenges in maintaining the position of window-related elements, such as roof windows, awnings, and blinds, when the electric motor is deenergized, due to unpredictable loads from gravity, wind, and snow, often resulting in inadvertent movement and noise from additional braking mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A locking system that includes a mechanical locking arrangement resiliently biased to prevent the output shaft of the main electric motor from rotating, which can be released by an auxiliary electric motor, ensuring the shaft remains locked when the main motor is deenergized, thus providing a mechanical lock that only requires electrical energy during operation and maintains the window-related element in position without additional support elements like gas springs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If friction in the drive mechanism is used to maintain position when motor is deenergized, then the system structure is simple, but the reliability is insufficient under unpredictable loads
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical locking arrangement is resiliently biased to automatically engage and lock the output shaft when the motor is deenergized, without requiring external control or additional braking components. The system uses its own residual mechanical energy (spring bias) to maintain the locked state, achieving self-service positioning reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary electric motor is configured to displace the locking arrangement against the bias before the main motor starts rotating, ensuring the shaft is unlocked in advance. Similarly, the locking arrangement automatically engages before the motor stops, providing preliminary position securing
2Reliability
If additional braking arrangements such as gas springs are used to prevent inadvertent movement, then the position holding capability is improved, but noise generation occurs during motor operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between two states: during motor operation, the auxiliary motor displaces the locking arrangement to allow free rotation without noise; when the motor stops, the spring bias automatically engages the locking arrangement to secure the position. This dynamic state change eliminates the continuous noise problem of traditional braking arrangements
3Reliability
If a mechanical locking arrangement resiliently biased to prevent rotation is used when motor is deenergized, then the position security is improved, but the device complexity increases due to auxiliary electric motor
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces continuous mechanical friction or dedicated braking mechanisms with an intelligent hybrid approach: a resiliently biased mechanical locking arrangement that only engages when needed (when motor is deenergized), controlled by an auxiliary electric motor that operates intermittently rather than continuously
4Device complexity
If friction in the mechanism is relied upon to protect against inadvertent movement, then the device complexity is low, but the protection is insufficient under wind, snow load, and installation angle variations
Solution Approach 1:
The locking arrangement is resiliently biased to automatically engage and lock the output shaft before the motor completes its stopping process, ensuring position security is established in advance. The auxiliary motor is activated prior to or simultaneously with main motor deenergization to ensure the locking arrangement is ready to engage, providing preliminary protection against unpredictable loads
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 effectively secures the window-related element in its position without noise generation, as the mechanical lock engages only when the motor is off, ensuring safety and reliability by using electrical energy only during operation, and maintaining the element in place against external loads without additional support elements.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanical locking arrangement resiliently biased in a first direction to prevent rotation of the output shaft
Implementation Method 2
an auxiliary electric motor configured to displace the resiliently biased mechanical locking arrangement against the bias, in a second opposite direction, to allow rotation of the output shaft
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A locking system (8) for preventing an output shaft (5) of a main electric motor (4) from rotating. The locking system (8) comprises a mechanical locking arrangement (9) and an auxiliary electric motor (10). The mechanical locking arrangement (9) is resiliently biased in a first direction to prevent rotation of the output shaft (5), and the auxiliary electric motor (10) is configured to displace the resiliently biased mechanical locking arrangement (9) against the bias, in a second opposite direction, to allow rotation of the output shaft (5).