Magnetic Plane Locking With Spherical Magnets for Smooth Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking systems with cylindrical magnets face issues of permanent locking due to overlapping housings, increased complexity, higher costs, and susceptibility to wear and failure, especially when using multiple components.
Innovation Solution
The system employs spherical and cylindrical magnets in pairs within housings, combined with ferromagnetic and magnetically inert elements to allow relative movement, simplifying assembly and reducing component count, thus avoiding permanent locking and enhancing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cylindrical magnets are used in overlapping housings, then the locking function is achieved, but the device becomes permanently locked and movement is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces cylindrical magnets with spherical magnets in the overlapping housings. The spherical shape allows the magnets to roll along the sliding plane during movement, preventing them from becoming permanently locked in position. This curvature enables continuous movement while maintaining the locking function when stationary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dynamic element by using spherical magnets that can change their position and orientation during operation. The magnets transition from a static locked position to a dynamic rolling motion, allowing the planes to move freely while maintaining locking capability when at rest.
2Ease of operation
If multiple components are used to prevent permanent locking, then movement is enabled, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the spherical magnet itself. The spherical magnet simultaneously provides the locking function, enables movement through rolling, and eliminates the need for separate limiting components. This merging reduces the total number of parts while achieving the desired operational freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical magnet serves multiple functions: it provides magnetic attraction for locking, enables rolling motion for movement, and acts as its own positioning mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional specialized components, simplifying the overall device structure.
3Ease of operation
If multiple components are used to enable movement, then operational freedom is achieved, but wear and susceptibility to failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical magnet introduces dynamic rolling motion instead of sliding friction between multiple components. This reduces wear by eliminating contact between separate moving parts, as the spherical magnet rolls along the sliding plane with minimal friction and no additional wear surfaces.
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
This design simplifies production, reduces complexity and cost, and extends the device's useful life by enabling smooth movement and reducing wear, while maintaining effective locking functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic system, which exploits the interaction of magnetic, ferromagnetic and magnetically inert elements with each other
Implementation Method 2
said actuation device providing a plurality of interference elements, made of magnetic material, or ferromagnetic or magnetically inert, oriented and combined in such a way as to attract, repel or leave unchanged said pairs of magnets
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~5a
AI summary
It is therefore a specific object of the present invention a locking and unlocking system of planes (20), comprising a first element or upper element (21), and a second element, or lower element (22), to be locked and unlocked, superimposed along a plane (30) of relative movement, and an actuation device (10) which is the subject matter of another patent, said system being characterized in that said first element (21) and second element (22) each provide a plurality of housings (21a) and (22a), in equal number, and positioned reciprocally so as to form pairs of housings, said system further being characterized by providing a plurality of cylindrical magnetic first elements (23) having a first length, a plurality of spherical magnetic second elements (24) having a second diameter measurement, lower than the length of said plurality of first magnetic elements, the total height of said pairs of housings being a greater measurement than twice said first length, in each of said pairs of housings a couple being provided, consisting of one of said first magnetic elements and one of said second magnetic elements, combined randomly as mutual position and as polarity orientation, so that their matching ends are located at, or offset from, said plane, said actuation device providing a plurality of interference elements, made of magnetic material, or ferromagnetic or magnetically inert, oriented and combined in such a way as to attract, repel or leave unchanged said pairs of magnets so that, by bringing said actuation element close to one of said two elements, said pairs of magnets are all aligned along said plane, allowing the reciprocal movement of the two plane elements.