Damping Spring for Electromechanical Lock Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromechanical lock devices lack sufficient security and performance, with complex assembly processes and vulnerability to manipulation through hammering or rapid rotation overshoots.
Innovation Solution
A spring with two legs abutting the actuator's abutment portion is used to provide damping, preventing overshoots and facilitating quick rotation, while ensuring easier assembly and increased accuracy through self-balancing forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring is used to return the actuator to latching position, then the actuator can be mechanically returned, but the assembly becomes complex and requires fixation in the core
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is designed to be self-balancing through its two legs abutting the actuator, which automatically centers itself without requiring external fixation or complex assembly mechanisms. The spring serves itself by using the actuator surface as its mounting reference.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is divided into two separate legs that independently abut the actuator on opposite sides. This segmentation allows the spring to function without a single fixed mounting point, simplifying assembly while maintaining the mechanical return function.
2Productivity
If the actuator is rotated quickly between end positions, then productivity is improved, but overshoots occur during rapid rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is positioned to abut the actuator before rapid rotation occurs, providing pre-positioned damping force. This cushioning effect is ready in advance to prevent overshoots when the actuator is rotated quickly between end positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring changes the damping parameter of the system by maintaining continuous contact with the actuator through its two legs. This dynamic damping parameter control allows rapid rotation while preventing overshoot, achieving both high productivity and positioning accuracy.
3Reliability
If the actuator is vulnerable to hammering manipulation, then security is compromised, but adding protection increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The two-legged spring configuration creates a self-balancing structure that inherently resists hammering manipulation. The spring uses the actuator itself as its reference surface, creating a stable, balanced system that is difficult to manipulate without adding complex protective structures.
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 damping spring enhances security by making manipulation of the latch mechanism more difficult and improves performance by allowing rapid, accurate actuator rotation between positions, while simplifying assembly.
Implementation Method 1
A damping spring (46) is provided radially inwards of the motor (40)
Implementation Method 2
a spring with two legs abutting the actuator's abutment portion is used to provide damping
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~5b
Figure 6~8d
AI summary
A lock device comprises a housing (2) which includes an opening (4) and a core (10) which is rotatably disposed in the opening and which includes a key way (12) for reception of a key. A latching element (20) co-acts between the housing (2) and the core (10) and is movable between a release position in which the core is rotatable relative to the housing, and a latching position in which rotation of the core relative to the housing is blocked. An electronically controllable actuator (30) is disposed in the core and is rotatable between an opening-registering-position in which the latching element is movable to the release position, and a latching position in which movement of the latching element to said release position is blocked. A spring (46) abuts an abutment portion (30c) of the actuator. Since the spring is provided with two mutually parallel leg portions (46d, 46e), which abut radially opposite surfaces of the abutment portion of the actuator, several advantages are obtained. Firstly, the damping spring is easily assembled without any fixation in the core. Furthermore, the balancing ensures that a predetermined force is exerted on the neck portion, which increases the accuracy and thereby the performance.