Domestic appliance with an electronic safety system and a mechanical locking system and method for operating a domestic appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing domestic appliances with electronic safety systems for preventing unintended starts of processing tools face high testing demands and complexities, leading to increased production costs and safety concerns, even when safety standards are met.
Innovation Solution
A domestic appliance with a mechanical locking system in addition to an electronic safety system, ensuring the motor is only connected to the power source when both mechanical switches are in their second position, with the first switch activated before the second, and featuring a mechanical locking mechanism to prevent unintended starts, reducing the need for extensive electronic safety system testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electronic safety system is used to detect switch positions and control motor connection, then safety against unintended starts is improved, but testing complexity and production time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely electronic safety system with a mechanically-based safety system. The mechanical interlocking mechanism uses physical constraints and geometric relationships to prevent unintended motor starts, eliminating the need for complex electronic testing while maintaining safety reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the safety function from the electronic control system and implements it as a separate mechanical interlocking mechanism. This separation allows the mechanical safety system to operate independently of the electronic controls, simplifying testing requirements while ensuring safety against unintended starts.
2Reliability
If an electronic safety system with sequence detection is implemented, then protection against unintended starts is enhanced, but production time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic sequence detection with a mechanical interlocking mechanism that enforces switch actuation sequence through physical constraints. The mechanism ensures proper sequencing through geometric relationships and mechanical dependencies, eliminating time-consuming electronic testing while maintaining production efficiency.
3Reliability
If mechanical switches with electronic detection are used, then safety control is improved, but the system requires extensive testing to comply with safety standards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the safety control function from electronic detection and implements it through mechanical means. The mechanical interlocking mechanism provides inherent safety control that can be verified through simple physical inspection rather than extensive electronic testing, significantly reducing testing time while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a domestic appliance (2) with a power source (42) being electrically connectable to an electrical motor (44) for driving a processing tool (46), the domestic appliance (2) comprising a first mechanical switch (62) being manually switchable from a first position into a second position, a second mechanical switch (68) being manually switchable from a first position into a second position, an electronic safety system with first means (78) for detecting the position of the first mechanical switch (62) and second means (80) for detecting the position of the second mechanical switch (68), the electronic safety system being constructed such that the motor (44) is only connected to one or both poles (54, 56) of the power source (42) if both mechanical switches (62, 68) are switched into their second position and if the first mechanical switch (62) is switched into its second position before the second mechanical switch (68) is switched into its second position. According to the invention, there is additionally provided a mechanical locking system (76) between the first and second mechanical switch (62, 68), such that the mechanical locking system (76) locks the second mechanical switch (68) in its first position as long as the first mechanical switch (62) is not switched into its second position. The present invention further relates to a method for operating a domestic appliance (2).