Exerciser Safety Switch Linkage Mechanism for Secure Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety switch mechanisms in exercisers, such as treadmills, lack reliability and security, as they do not ensure accurate power control and can be accidentally triggered by children or external objects, leading to potential injuries.
Innovation Solution
A safety switch control mechanism featuring a linkage with a pivot unit and a safety control key, where the keyhole design includes a micro switch that is activated by a rotating wheel with hook portions and a springy piece, ensuring secure on/off power control and preventing external objects from accidentally turning on the power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple plug pin insertion design is used for the safety switch, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of power control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A linkage mechanism with a wheel and hook portions is introduced as an intermediary between the plug pin insertion action and the micro switch activation. The hook portions engage with the plug pin to rotate the wheel, which then reliably actuates the micro switch through a connecting piece, ensuring accurate power control while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If an open keyhole design is used for the safety switch, then the ease of operation is improved, but the security against external objects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The keyhole is designed with an asymmetric shape that matches only the specific safety control key. This asymmetric design prevents external objects or children from accidentally inserting them into the keyhole and activating the power supply, while the authorized key with its complementary shape can easily be inserted and operated.
3Reliability
If a linkage mechanism with wheel and hook portions is added to the safety switch, then the reliability of power control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage mechanism is integrated into the existing safety switch housing structure. The wheel, hook portions, and connecting piece are combined into a compact assembly that fits within the safety switch housing, minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable power control activation.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety switch control mechanism includes a linkage and a safety control key. The linkage has a bracket mounted to an instrument panel of an exerciser and a wheel thereof rotatably mounted to the bracket. The instrument panel includes a keyhole located at an opposite side thereof to the bracket. The wheel has at least one hook portion formed at an outer periphery thereof, and a holding portion and a releasing portion formed at one side thereof. The safety control key has a through hole for engaging said at hook portion. When the safety control key is inserted into or pulled away from the keyhole, the sidewall of the through hole forces clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the wheel to further shift the releasing portion for contact against a micro switch mounted to the instrument panel, and thus the micro switch is driven to switch on or off the power supply of the exerciser.