Pivoting Door Drive Using Planetary Gear Leverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing swing door drive devices require high forces for opening and closing, which is challenging to achieve with an electric motor directly connected to the pivoting lever, leading to complex and large constructions.

Innovation Solution

A compact swing door drive device using an electric motor with a sun gear and planetary gear system, where the planetary gear is moved along the sun gear's lateral peripheral surface, providing a leverage effect to reduce the forces required and incorporating a cam disk unit for power storage to ensure door closure without current.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If an electric motor is connected directly to the pivoting lever, then the structure is simple, but high forces are required which cannot be generated by the motor alone

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidforce
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

A planetary gear system is introduced as an intermediary between the electric motor and the pivoting lever. The planetary gear mechanism acts as a force amplifier, allowing the motor to generate high forces required for door operation through mechanical advantage provided by the gear teeth engagement and planetary gear configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The planetary gear system provides dynamic force multiplication where the forces required for door operation are generated dynamically through the interaction of planetary gears and sun gear, rather than requiring the motor to produce constant high forces. The system adapts force requirements during door opening and closing cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Force

If gears are used to amplify force, then high forces can be generated, but the construction becomes complicated and large

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveforceVSAvoidconstruction
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The planetary gear system merges multiple gear functions into a single integrated mechanism. The planetary gears simultaneously provide force amplification, motion transmission, and positioning functions that would traditionally require separate mechanical components, thereby reducing overall construction complexity despite the sophisticated gear interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic nature of the planetary gear system allows it to adapt to varying force requirements during door operation, reducing the need for oversized static mechanical components. The system efficiently transmits power throughout the range of motion, minimizing the size of individual components while maintaining high force generation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Force

If multiple movable gear wheels are used, then force transmission is achieved, but the construction is complicated and large forces act on the drive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce transmissionVSAvoidconstruction
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The planetary gear system serves as an intermediary force transmission mechanism between the motor and pivoting lever. The planetary gears and sun gear configuration provide smooth force transmission through continuous tooth engagement, eliminating the need for multiple separate movable gear wheels and reducing the forces acting on individual drive components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 allows for a compact, quiet, and efficient operation with reduced forces, ensuring accurate positioning and secure door closure, even without power, by leveraging the sun and planetary gear interaction and the cam disk unit's torque enhancement.

Implementation Method 1

the planetary gear can be moved in at least one partial circle along a lateral peripheral surface of the sun gear by means of a restricted guide, with the teeth of the planetary gear engaging in the teeth of the sun gear

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling motion:

Implementation Method 2

The planetary gear is operatively connected to the motor shaft of the electric motor in such a way that the rotation of the motor shaft causes the planetary gear to rotate on the lateral peripheral surface of the sun gear and thus causes the planetary gear to roll on the toothing of the sun gear Driving and pivoting of the pivoted lever causes about the pivoted lever pivot axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Implementation Method 3

a guide lever pivotable about a guide lever pivot axis and the guide lever pivot axis of the guide lever coincides with a central axis passing through the center of the sun gear, the guide lever being rotatably mounted on the planetary gear. This ensures that the planetary gear can only move on a circular path around the sun gear

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical constraint:

Implementation Method 4

incorporating a cam disk unit for power storage to ensure door closure without current

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy storage: Mechanical Accumulator

Implementation Method 5

by leveraging the sun and planetary gear interaction and the cam disk unit's torque enhancement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorque: Torque

Data Source

PatentEP3095942B1Pivoting door driving device
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 AGTATEC
  • EP3095942B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3095942B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3095942B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A swing door drive device (1) for driving a swing door (8) comprises an electric motor (4) and a pivot lever (5) which is pivotable about a pivot lever axis (6), the pivot lever (5) being connected at its free end to a slide rail (2) attached to the swing door (8). The electric motor (4) is operatively connected to the pivot lever (5), such that rotation of the electric motor (4) causes the pivot lever (5) to pivot about its pivot lever axis (6) and thus pivot the swing door (8). A planetary gear (11) is movable by means of a positive guide (12) only in at least one pitch circle along a side circumferential surface (13) of a sun gear (10), the teeth of the planetary gear (11) engaging with the teeth of the sun gear (10).The planet gear (11) is rotatably mounted on the pivot lever (5) at an attachment point (16) offset from the pivot lever pivot axis (6) and takes it with it when it rotates around the sun gear.