Electromagnetic Door Locking with Push-Push Pawl Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromagnetic blocking devices for front-loading washing machines are complex, expensive, cumbersome, and have high manufacturing and assembly costs, with a need for simplification and cost reduction while maintaining reliability and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A simplified electromagnetic blocking device using a push-push retaining mechanism with an electromagnet and a pre-loaded spring, allowing the pawl to be blocked with a single pulse and released with two consecutive pulses, utilizing a novel configuration of an accommodating bushing, pin, and rotor with specific toothing and axial grooves to control the pawl's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex electromagnetic actuating device with ratchet and toothed wheel is used, then the blocking function is reliable, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex ratchet and toothed wheel components from the electromagnetic actuating device, retaining only the essential electromagnet and slide mechanism. This simplification maintains the blocking function reliability while significantly reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical ratchet-toothed wheel system with a simpler electromagnet-slide mechanism. The electromagnet directly actuates the slide through magnetic force, eliminating the need for intermediate mechanical transmission components while maintaining functional reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple components like ratchet and toothed wheel are used for pawl control, then the blocking mechanism is robust, but the manufacturing and assembly cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the ratchet and toothed wheel components from the pawl control mechanism, keeping only the essential electromagnet and slide. This extraction eliminates unnecessary manufacturing and assembly steps while maintaining pawl control robustness through the simplified direct-actuation mechanism.
3Reliability
If a complex electromagnetic actuator with ratchet mechanism is used, then the blocking function is reliable, but the device dimensions and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the heavy ratchet and toothed wheel components, retaining only the lightweight electromagnet and slide mechanism. This significantly reduces the device weight and dimensions while maintaining blocking function reliability through the streamlined design.
4Reliability
If a complex electromagnetic actuator with ratchet and toothed wheel is used, then the blocking function is reliable, but the device dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the space-consuming ratchet and toothed wheel components, keeping only the compact electromagnet and slide mechanism. This dramatically reduces the device length and overall dimensions while preserving blocking function reliability through the simplified direct-actuation path.
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 provides a more reliable, cost-effective, and compact blocking device that maintains the same functionality as existing devices but with reduced complexity and lower manufacturing costs, ensuring efficient blocking and release mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
the control means of the pawl comprise an electromagnet having a winding and a mobile core along the axis of the winding
Implementation Method 2
a pre-loaded spring sandwiched between the retaining device and a contrast shoulder fixed in use to the support
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 2~3
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A blocking device (1) for a door of an electric household appliance in which a plate (5) sliding on a support is selectively blocked in use in a engaging position with a striker (3) of the door (2) by a pawl (7) selectively mobile between an extracted position and a retracted position from/into a sliding seat (10) thereof, in which positions the pawl respectively engages/does not engage a perforation (11) of the plate (5); wherein the pawl is selectively blocked in an extracted position by means of an electromagnet having a winding and a core mobile along the axis of the winding and operatively associated to a mobile slide parallelly to the axis of the winding between a first and a second limit stop position, only in the first of which a protrusion of the slide cooperates with the pawl; a retaining device of push-push type being operatively associated on one side to the slide and on the opposite side to a pre-loaded spring sandwiched between the retaining device and a shoulder fixed in use to the support; the push-push device being configured to block the slide in the first limit stop position following a single energising pulse of the electromagnet and to release the slide, so as to allow the spring to take it to the second limit stop position, following two consecutive energising pulses of the electromagnet.