Magnetic Latch With Adjustable Holding Force And Hall Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety systems for industrial gates face challenges in preventing false 'door closed' signals due to wear, damage, or environmental contamination, particularly when incorporating RFID sensors into various latch types and configurations.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic latch system with adjustable magnetic attraction force, incorporating an RFID sensing mechanism, designed for versatility across different gate types and environments, featuring a ferromagnetic keeper plate with varying permeability and overmolded polymer for enhanced reliability and contamination resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical latch switch is used to indicate gate closure, then the gate can be held securely closed, but the switch becomes susceptible to wear, damage, and environmental contamination causing false 'door closed' signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical latch switch with a magnetic field-based detection system using Hall effect sensors. This substitution eliminates direct mechanical contact between the switch and moving parts, thereby preventing wear and mechanical damage while maintaining reliable detection of gate closure status.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the latch mechanism and the sensor. The Hall effect sensor detects changes in magnetic field strength caused by the latch position rather than directly contacting mechanical components, providing reliable detection while isolating the sensor from harmful mechanical and environmental factors.
2Measurement precision
If an RFID sensor system is incorporated into the latch to prevent false signals, then detection accuracy improves, but the complexity of incorporating RFID into various latch types and configurations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal magnetic latch assembly that can be applied to various gate types (swinging, sliding, rolling) without requiring different RFID sensor implementations. The standardized magnetic assembly works with Hall effect sensors in multiple configurations, providing gate closure detection across different applications while maintaining consistent design and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the proposed RFID sensor system with a simpler magnetic field-based detection system using Hall effect sensors. This substitution achieves comparable or superior detection accuracy while significantly reducing system complexity, as the magnetic field detection requires fewer components and simpler integration than RFID technology.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the magnetic attraction force of the latch is fixed, then the latch design is simpler, but the latch cannot be flexibly employed in a variety of safety situations with different gate sizes and weights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the magnetic latch system adjustable by allowing repositioning of the magnet assembly relative to the gate and latch components. This dynamic configuration enables the same basic latch design to accommodate different gate sizes, weights, and types by adjusting the magnetic attraction force and engagement point, providing versatility without requiring multiple fixed-force latch designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables adjustment of the magnetic attraction force by changing the position, orientation, or strength parameters of the magnet assembly. This parameter adjustment allows a single latch design to be adapted to various safety situations and gate configurations, achieving versatility while maintaining a relatively simple base design that doesn't require multiple complex fixed-force mechanisms.
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 magnetic latch system provides a highly secure and adaptable solution for industrial gates, reducing false signals and maintaining reliability across diverse applications, including rolling and swinging gates, while being resistant to environmental contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet assembly providing a housing presenting a mounting surface for attaching the housing to a gate, the housing holding a permanent magnet flanked by ferromagnetic pole pieces
Implementation Method 2
the latching-force of magnetic attraction provided by the latch may be adjusted
Implementation Method 3
ferromagnetic pole pieces extending out of the housing. A keeper plate of ferromagnetic material provides a first and second area displaced from each other each with different magnetic permeability
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic latch for industrial environments includes fixed magnetic pole pieces that may be sealed within a housing to resist environmental contamination and which provide for perpendicular engagement faces for use with gates having a rolling or swinging configuration. An RFID tag reader may be incorporated into the magnet assembly of the latch for reading a specially encoded RFID tag in a keeper portion of the magnetic latch.