Pivotable Cam Mechanism for Direction-Independent Door Closing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door closers face issues with insufficient closing effect at large opening angles, requiring manual intervention and being direction-dependent, leading to complexity and confusion in installation and use.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with an eccentrically arranged cam tip that can pivot relative to the cam disk, allowing for adequate closing effect at 180° opening angles and being independent of closing direction, featuring a cam with a triangular cross-section and a pivotable design that ensures uniform contact with the spring roller, preventing dead center and enabling use on both right-hand and left-hand doors without modification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional door closer with a fixed cam disk is used, then the structure is simple, but a dead center is reached at large opening angles (180°) resulting in insufficient closing effect
Solution Approach 1:
The cam is made pivotable relative to the cam disk, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position during door operation. This dynamic adjustment prevents the dead center condition at 180° opening angles while maintaining adequate closing effect throughout the door's range of motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device is divided into functionally independent components: the fixed cam disk and the pivotable cam. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the cam disk provides the base structure while the cam provides the adjustable closing action.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a direction-dependent locking device is used, then the structure can be simplified for one direction, but high stock levels and confusion occur when purchasing and installing for different door directions
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is designed to function equally well for both right-hand and left-hand doors through the pivotable cam mechanism. The cam can pivot in either direction to accommodate different door configurations, making the device universal and eliminating the need for direction-specific models.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam is designed with asymmetric pivot capability, allowing it to adapt its configuration based on the required door direction. This asymmetric design enables a single device to handle multiple configurations that would traditionally require symmetric, direction-specific designs.
3Reliability
If the cam tip is arranged eccentrically to avoid dead center at 180°, then adequate closing effect is achieved, but the cam must be pivotable which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The cam transitions from a fixed position to a pivotable configuration, allowing it to dynamically achieve the optimal eccentric arrangement during operation. This dynamic positioning ensures the cam tip is properly positioned to avoid dead center conditions while maintaining the simplicity of the overall mechanism.
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 reliable, direction-independent closing effect even at large opening angles, reducing storage complexity and installation confusion, ensuring consistent performance for both types of doors with reduced risk of damage from uneven loading.
Implementation Method 1
a spring device (18) acting on a cam disk (14) by means of a roller (16) in order to provide a closing force
Implementation Method 2
when there is contact between the roller and the cam, a torque is applied to the cam and the cam is pivoted into one of the end positions
Implementation Method 3
The folding movement of the cam is positively controlled by the roller of the spring means
Data Source
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AI summary
A closing device (10) for closing a door, comprising a closer shaft (12, 62), a cam disk (14, 64) non-rotatably connected to the closer shaft (12, 62), and a spring device (18) acting on the cam disk (14, 64) by means of a roller (16) to provide a closing force, is designed and further developed with simple structural means to ensure a reliable and direction-independent closing process, such that the cam disk (14, 64) has a recess (22, 72) on a section (20, 70) projecting relative to the closer shaft (12, 62), on or in which a cam (24) is pivotably mounted, such that the cam (24) forms a cam tip projecting relative to the recess (22, 72) and can be pivoted into a first end position and/or a second end position by means of the roller (16).