Remote Button Actuator Lever Force Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for remotely controlling electric equipment, such as electromechanical actuators, often apply excessive force, risking damage to sensitive buttons and generating unwanted heat and magnetic fields, making precise installation costly and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a supporting structure, an elongated lever, and an actuation member that rotates to apply a predefined force to a button, allowing precise and controlled movement without damaging the equipment, and can be positioned at a safe distance to avoid heat and magnetic field interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If an electromechanical actuator is used to press the button remotely, then the button can be actuated without human presence, but the actuator may apply excessive force that damages the sensitive button or protecting cover
Solution Approach 1:
A plastic lever with a finger portion is introduced as an intermediary between the electromechanical actuator and the button. The lever transmits the actuation force while its geometry and material properties limit the maximum force applied to the button, preventing damage to the sensitive button or protecting cover while still enabling remote actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever is designed with specific geometric parameters (length, thickness, shape) that determine its mechanical properties. By changing these parameters, the lever's stiffness and force transmission characteristics are adjusted to ensure the applied force remains within safe limits for the button while sufficient to activate it.
2Force
If a large electromagnet is used to generate sufficient force, then the button can be pressed with adequate force, but the electromagnet performs hard and rapid movement that generates excessive kinetic energy damaging the button
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic lever acts as a force-modifying intermediary between the electromagnet and the button. It transforms the hard, rapid movement of the electromagnet into a softer, more controlled motion at the button interface, reducing kinetic energy while maintaining adequate pressing force through its mechanical leverage and damping properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic lever material inherently provides cushioning and damping before the force reaches the button. This beforehand cushioning effect absorbs excess kinetic energy and softens the impact, preventing damage while ensuring reliable button activation.
3Force
If an electromagnet is positioned close to the button for effective actuation, then sufficient force can be applied, but unwanted heat and magnetic field may harm the equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic lever serves as a magnetic field shield and thermal insulator between the electromagnet and the equipment. Plastic materials have low magnetic permeability and thermal conductivity, blocking harmful magnetic fields and heat while still allowing mechanical force transmission, thus enabling the electromagnet to be positioned closer without causing damage.
4Reliability
If precise installation of the electromagnet is performed to avoid damage, then button integrity is maintained, but the installation becomes costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic lever is designed as a robust, easily installable component that provides inherent force limitation and protection. Its simple geometry and material properties make it easy to manufacture and install without requiring precise alignment or calibration, while still ensuring button safety through its built-in force-damping characteristics.
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
Enables precise and safe remote manipulation of electric equipment buttons, reducing the risk of damage and eliminating the need for costly installations, while minimizing heat and magnetic field impact on the equipment.
Implementation Method 1
an elongated lever attached to an axis of the supporting structure between a first end and a second end of the elongated lever such that the elongated lever is rotatable around the axis
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (200) for remote manipulation of an electric equipment. The apparatus (200) comprises a supporting structure (204) adapted to be attached to the electric equipment adjacent to a button (202a) of the electric equipment, and an elongated lever (206) attached to an axis (204a) of the supporting structure between a first end and a second end of the elongated lever such that the elongated lever is rotatable around the axis (204a). The apparatus (200) also comprises an actuation member (208, 210) adapted to actuate the first end of the elongated lever in response to an actuation signal (S) such that the elongated lever rotates around the axis (204a) so to move a finger portion (206c) at the second end of the lever against the button with a predefined maximum length. Thereby, a precise and well-defined movement of the finger portion (206c) can fairly easy be created with a predefined maximum length which is sufficient to press the button (202a) to activate some function as desired, but without risking damage of the button (202a).