Magnetic Locking Mechanism for Orthotic Joint Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joint mechanisms in orthotics and prosthetics are costly, require fine motor skills for adjustment, and are susceptible to contamination and water ingress.
Innovation Solution
An adjusting device with a first element and a second element, where the actuating element uses a magnet to actively lock or unlock the locking element, allowing for rapid adjustment without mechanical wear or direct mechanical connections, enabling easy operation and encapsulated assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mechanical locking mechanisms are used, then secure locking is achieved, but mechanical wear occurs and fine motor skills are required for adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical spring-loaded locking pins with a magnetic field-based locking mechanism. The actuating magnet generates a magnetic field that actively moves the locking element into the locking position, eliminating the need for mechanical springs and reducing mechanical wear. This substitution also eliminates the need for fine motor skills to compress springs, making adjustment easier while maintaining secure locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the actuating element and the locking element. Instead of direct mechanical contact, the magnetic field mediates the force transmission, allowing the locking element to be moved into and out of the locking position without mechanical wear. This intermediary approach also enables operation without direct mechanical connections, facilitating encapsulated assembly designs.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex adjustment mechanisms are used, then precise positioning is achieved, but device complexity increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the adjustment mechanism by replacing complex mechanical components (springs, multiple locking pins, intricate release mechanisms) with a simple magnetic field-based system. The actuating magnet directly controls the locking element's position, eliminating the need for complex mechanical assemblies while maintaining precise positioning capability through magnetic force control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary mechanical components from the traditional locking mechanism. By removing springs, complex release levers, and multiple interacting mechanical parts, the design achieves precise positioning with a simplified structure consisting primarily of the magnetic actuator and locking element, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost.
3Force
If traditional mechanical connections are used, then direct force transmission is achieved, but susceptibility to contamination and water ingress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct mechanical connections and moving parts with a magnetic field-based interaction system. The magnetic field can transmit force through non-magnetic barriers (such as encapsulating materials), eliminating the need for mechanical openings or gaps that would allow contamination and water ingress. This maintains effective force transmission for locking while protecting the mechanism from environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field acts as an intermediary that can transmit force through encapsulating materials or barriers. This allows the locking mechanism to be hermetically sealed or encapsulated, preventing contamination and water ingress, while the magnetic field still effectively moves the locking element through the barrier without requiring mechanical connections that would compromise the seal.
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 provides a simple, reliable, and rapid adjustment mechanism that reduces mechanical wear and allows for easy operation, even in encapsulated assemblies, while maintaining secure locking and preventing unintentional displacement.
Implementation Method 1
the actuating element has at least one actuating magnet which is associated with a locking magnet and the locking element moves into the release position and/or locking position
Data Source
AI summary
An adjusting device having a first element and a second element movably mounted with respect thereto, wherein the first element has at least one latching device, and wherein at least one locking element coupled to an actuating element is movably disposed on the second element and can be moved out of a release position out of engagement with the latching device into a locking position in engagement with the latching device. The adjusting device has a simple construction which functions reliably and enables rapid adjustment of the stop position. The actuating element has at least one actuating magnet, which is associated with a locking magnet coupled to the locking element and the locking element moves into the release position and/or locking position and/or out of the release position and/or locking position.