Magnetic Contact Device for Door Electrical Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for connecting electrical apparatuses on moveable door leaves to their supporting frames are aesthetically compromising, require complex installations, and lack efficient monitoring and control of door status and cycles, especially when using electric locks.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising magnetic or ferromagnetic contact elements that attract each other to establish a secure electrical connection between the door leaf and the frame, allowing for easy power supply and signal transmission, while accommodating slight misalignments and enabling tamper-resistant status verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contact terminals are installed at the portion of the frame aligned with the pivoting hinges to avoid wear and transverse stresses, then the reliability of electrical connection is improved, but the aesthetic appearance of the door leaf deteriorates due to visible wires running transversely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical wire-based electrical connection system with a magnetic coupling system. Magnetic contact elements with opposing polarities establish electrical connections through magnetic attraction without requiring physical wire runs across the door leaf surface, thereby maintaining aesthetic appearance while ensuring reliable electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thin flexible printed circuit boards as substrates for mounting magnetic contact elements. These flexible circuits can conform to the door leaf geometry and provide electrical connections through the magnetic coupling interface without visible external wiring, resolving the contradiction between reliability and aesthetics.
2Shape
If contact terminals are installed away from the hinges to improve aesthetic appearance, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the contact terminals become subjected to wear and transverse stresses reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical wire connections with magnetic field-based electrical coupling. The magnetic contact elements transmit electrical signals and power through magnetic attraction across a small air gap, eliminating the need for physical wire runs that would be visible and compromising aesthetics, while the magnetic coupling remains reliable regardless of position.
3Reliability
If complex wire routing is used to connect electrical apparatus on the door leaf to the frame, then the electrical connection is established, but the installation complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical wire routing and installation procedures with a simplified magnetic coupling system. The magnetic contact elements are mounted on opposite sides of the door leaf and engage through magnetic attraction when the door is closed, eliminating the need for intricate wire routing through the door structure and significantly reducing installation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the electrical connection system into separate magnetic contact elements mounted on the door leaf and frame respectively. This segmentation allows independent installation and positioning of each magnetic contactor, simplifying the overall installation process compared to running continuous wires through the entire door assembly.
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 simplifies installation, maintains aesthetic integrity, provides reliable power and signal transmission, and allows for precise monitoring of door status and cycle control, ensuring safety and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
A device comprising magnetic or ferromagnetic contact elements that attract each other to establish a secure electrical connection between the door leaf and the frame
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A device (1) for connecting an electrical apparatus, installed on a moveable door leaf, to a circuit (3) in the supporting frame of such door leaf, which comprises a first (4) and a second electrical contact element (5) which are mutually facing and proximate in the closed configuration of the door leaf; the first electrical contact element (4) is installed on the door leaf and is connected to the electrical apparatus and the second electrical contact element (5) is installed on the frame. The first electrical contact element (4) comprises a guide assembly (6) for a moveable block (7) which is provided with respective protrusions (8) made of electrically conducting material which are connected to the apparatus. The second electrical contact element (5) comprises a main body (9) and specific electrical contact surfaces (10) which are connected to the circuit (3); at least one portion of the block (7) and of the main body (9) is made of a material chosen between either ferromagnetic or magnetic; in the closed configuration of the door leaf the body (9) and the block (7) are subjected to mutual magnetic attraction with consequent translation of the block (7) toward the second electrical contact element (5) with consequent abutment of the protrusions (8) on the contact surfaces (10) and connection of the electrical apparatus to the circuit (3) of the frame.