Furniture Actuator Coupling Device for Spring Force Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuators for movable furniture parts require high manual effort to open due to strong spring forces, especially when attached to a wall unit, as they necessitate overcoming the locking force of the spring device, which increases the space and manufacturing costs with additional springs for compensating devices.
Innovation Solution
A coupling device that decouples the spring device from the actuating arm during the opening movement, allowing easy opening by one person without overcoming the spring force, and re-couples it to assist the opening movement, reducing the locking force required for closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a spring device with high spring force is provided to increase locking force, then the locking force in closed position is improved, but the force required to open the furniture part increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is pre-configured to automatically decouple the spring device from the actuating arm when the furniture part is in the closed position, before any opening movement is initiated. This preliminary decoupling action eliminates the need for users to overcome the full spring force during opening, while maintaining the high locking force when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the spring device and the actuating arm. It transmits the spring force to the actuating arm only when needed (during closing movement), and disconnects it during opening movement, thereby mediating the force transmission to resolve the contradiction between maintaining high locking force and enabling easy opening.
2Ease of operation
If a compensating device with energy accumulator is provided to reduce locking force, then the opening effort is reduced, but the space requirement and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device performs multiple functions: it couples the spring device to the actuating arm during closing movement to provide spring-assisted closing, decouples them during opening movement to reduce opening effort, and maintains a compact structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate compensating devices with energy accumulators, reducing space requirements and manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device merges the functions of force transmission and force isolation into a single mechanism. By integrating the coupling and decoupling actions into one device that works in conjunction with the existing spring device, the invention avoids adding separate compensating devices, thereby reducing overall device complexity and space occupation.
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
Enables easy opening of furniture parts by one person without overcoming the spring force, reducing the need for high-energy ejection devices and minimizing space and manufacturing costs, while maintaining the spring-assisted closing mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a spring device, by means of which the actuating arm can be retracted into the closed position within a closing region immediately in front of the closed position
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to an actuator (4) for moving a movably supported furniture part (3), comprising: at least one actuating arm (6) for moving the movable furniture part (3), which actuating arm is supported in such a way that the actuating arm can be moved between a closed position and an open position, a spring device (11), by means of which the actuating arm (6) can be retracted into the closed position within a closing range (31) directly in front of the closed position, wherein the actuator (4) has a coupling device (10), which decouples the spring device (11) from the actuating arm (6) in the closing range (31) when the actuating arm (6) is being opened and which couples the spring device (11) to the actuating arm (6) in the closing range (31) when the actuating arm (6) is being closed.