Rotating Hook Door Lock with Rolling Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door-lock devices for household appliances like washing machines and dishwashers suffer from mechanical noise and 'stick and slit' phenomena due to sliding parts, which can block or release unexpectedly, affecting device operation.
Innovation Solution
A door-lock device with a rotating hook and rolling members, such as toothed wheels, that translate and rotate to engage with the door prong, minimizing part sliding and using a blocking assembly with a slider and spring mechanism to ensure secure locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If sliding parts are used in the door-lock device, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but mechanical noise and stick-slip phenomena occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sliding mechanical contact with rolling contact by introducing rolling members (wheels) that engage with gear racks. This substitution transforms the friction-based sliding mechanism into a rolling mechanism, thereby eliminating mechanical noise and stick-slip phenomena while maintaining structural simplicity and ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces curved rolling members (wheels with circular cross-section) that roll along linear gear racks. The curved geometry of the rolling members enables smooth rotational motion instead of linear sliding, reducing friction and eliminating the stick-slip effect while keeping the overall structure compact and manufacturable.
2Device complexity
If sliding parts are used in the door-lock device, then the structure is simple, but stick-slip phenomena cause blocking and release issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the unreliable sliding mechanical contact with a rolling contact system using wheels and gear racks. This replacement eliminates the stick-slip phenomenon that causes unpredictable blocking and release, significantly improving reliability while adding only minimal structural complexity through the introduction of rolling members.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a rotating hook with rolling members is used, then mechanical noise and stick-slip phenomena are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hook function with the rolling mechanism by integrating the rotating hook directly with the rolling members and gear racks. This consolidation creates a unified locking mechanism where the hook's rotation and the rolling members' movement are coupled, reducing overall device complexity despite the introduction of rolling contact elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The rolling members serve multiple functions: they enable the hook to rotate smoothly, provide the pulling action to close the door, and engage with the gear racks for controlled movement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving noise reduction and elimination of stick-slip phenomena.
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 reduces mechanical noise and prevents 'stick and slit' issues, providing a compact and reliable locking mechanism that enhances operational stability and space efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
said blocking assembly comprises at least one or more rolling members, associated to said hook and arranged to roll so as to allow translational motion of said hook
Implementation Method 2
said blocking assembly may comprise a return spring, having one or more arms, each one engaged with a respective lateral relief of said hook, wherein said return spring is arranged so as to translate said hook when said prong interferes with said hook
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a door-lock device (1) for an household appliance, such as a washing machine, a dishwasher and the like, having a door provided with a prong (P), wherein said door-lock device (1) comprises a containment casing (2), a blocking assembly (4), arranged in said containment envelope (2), and having a hook (44), intended to engage with the prong (P) when the household appliance door is closed, wherein said hook (44) is configured to translate when engaging with said prong (P), characterized in that said blocking assembly (4) comprises at least one or more rolling members (46, 47), associated to said hook (44) and arranged to roll so as to allow translational motion of said hook (44). The present invention also relates to a household appliance, such as a washing machine, a dishwasher and the like.