Hygienic door handle system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current self-cleaning door handle technologies are prone to jamming and do not operate effectively when the user is grasping the handle, and they lack a safety system to prevent damage from repetitive door opening and closing cycles, failing to provide a reliable and safe method for disinfecting high-touch surfaces in healthcare settings.
Innovation Solution
A system that harnesses the kinetic energy of a door opening to power a self-cleaning mechanism, using a cable and transmission assembly to rotate a drive roller and clean the door handle only when the handle is released and the door is closing, incorporating a worm gear and spur gear drive train to ensure safe operation and prevent user interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a self-cleaning mechanism is activated during door opening, then the door handle can be disinfected, but the device may jam or operate when the user is grasping the handle causing safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the cleaning action in advance during door closing, before the user needs to grasp the handle again. The drive roller rotates and cleans the handle surface during the closing phase, ensuring the handle is disinfected before the next user interaction, thus preventing jamming during user operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a sensor to detect when the user is grasping the handle and provides feedback to the control unit. When user contact is detected, the system halts the drive roller rotation, preventing operation during user interaction and ensuring safe operation. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by making the system responsive to user presence.
2Reliability
If the door handle is rotated continuously for cleaning, then disinfection is effective, but the mechanism is prone to jamming from repetitive door cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The drive roller operates periodically during door closing cycles rather than continuously. The system activates the cleaning mechanism only during the closing phase when the door returns to the closed position, creating a periodic action that provides sufficient disinfection while avoiding continuous operation that would cause jamming from repetitive door cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation of the drive roller based on door position and user presence. Rather than continuous rotation, the drive roller operates dynamically during specific phases (door closing) and halts when user contact is detected, providing effective disinfection while maintaining mechanical stability and preventing jamming.
3Use of energy by moving object
If kinetic energy from door opening is used to power the cleaning mechanism, then energy efficiency is improved, but the cleaning only occurs when the door is closing
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the kinetic energy from door opening into stored potential energy using a spring mechanism. When the door opens, the cable winds the spring, storing energy. During door closing, this stored energy powers the drive roller to rotate and clean the handle. This converts the opening action (which cannot directly power closing operations) into useful cleaning energy during the closing phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs energy storage in advance during door opening. The cable mechanism winds the spring as the door opens, storing potential energy before the closing phase begins. This preliminary energy storage ensures that sufficient energy is available to power the cleaning mechanism during the subsequent closing phase, effectively utilizing the door opening action to prepare for future cleaning operations.
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 system provides automatic and unobtrusive disinfection of door handles with every use, reducing the transmission of microorganisms and allowing for scheduled disinfection, using only user-applied kinetic energy, ensuring safe and ergonomic operation by halting device movement when the user applies force to the handle.
Implementation Method 1
a cable, for example a multi-link chain, fixed to a door frame and a transmission assembly such that linear displacement of said cable is converted to potential energy in response to movement of said door
Implementation Method 2
A system that harnesses the kinetic energy of a door opening to power a self-cleaning mechanism, using a cable and transmission assembly to rotate a drive roller and clean the door handle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2a
AI summary
The invention provides a system and method for self-cleaning a door handle (4) by utilising the kinetic energy of opening a door (1). A cable (3), for example a multi-link chain, fixed to the door frame (2) and a gear assembly (10, 11, 12) is provided such that linear displacement of said cable is converted to potential energy in response to movement of said door. The invention provides a means for rotating a drive roller (5) to co-operate with the door handle to clean said door handle, only when the door handle is released and the door is closing or closed. The potential energy provides the energy to enable the rotation of the drive roller.