Shape-Memory Alloy Door Lock to Reduce Appliance Energy Consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current door locking devices for electric household appliances consume high electricity due to positive temperature coefficient components and are complex and expensive to produce, with slow release times.
Innovation Solution
A door locking device using a shape-memory alloy resistance wire to control the latch mechanism, eliminating electronic components and reducing power consumption, featuring a latch and traction pin system with elastic thrust means for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If positive temperature coefficient components are used in the door locking device, then the locking function is reliable, but the electric consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the PTC (positive temperature coefficient) components from the door locking device structure. By extracting these energy-consuming components, the invention eliminates the continuous power consumption problem while maintaining the locking function through a purely mechanical spring-based system that only requires brief actuator activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-based locking mechanism is designed to be self-sustaining once activated. The spring automatically maintains the locked state without requiring continuous power supply, and the system self-regulates the locking and unlocking cycles through mechanical energy storage and release, eliminating the need for energy-intensive electronic control components.
2Reliability
If PTC components are used for safety control, then the safety function is ensured, but the release time becomes slow due to cooling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electronic PTC-based safety control system with a mechanical spring-based safety mechanism. This substitution eliminates the thermal inertia and cooling time associated with PTC components, allowing the door to be released immediately when the actuator retracts, as the mechanical spring responds instantaneously to position changes.
3Measurement precision
If electronic control components are used in the door locking device, then the control precision is improved, but the device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes electronic control components from the door locking device, retaining only the essential mechanical elements (spring, latch, actuator). This simplification reduces device complexity and production costs while maintaining adequate control precision through mechanical positioning and engagement features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive mechanical components that can be easily manufactured and replaced. The spring-based mechanism uses basic mechanical parts rather than expensive electronic components, reducing both initial production costs and long-term maintenance expenses.
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 results in a simpler, cheaper, and more energy-efficient door locking system with faster release times, reducing overall energy consumption and production costs.
Implementation Method 1
said latch means comprising: a latch hinged to the box body to at least rotate, about a first axis, between said lock position locking said door, and in which the latch engages a catch on said door to hold the door in the closed position
Implementation Method 2
electric power means for powering said resistance wire and producing a controlled Joule effect variation in temperature
Implementation Method 3
elastic thrust means connected to the carriage to move it in the forward direction when the resistance wire increases in length
Data Source
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AI summary
An electric household appliance having a casing (2); a compartment (3) housed inside the casing (2) and facing an opening (4); a door (5) fitted to the casing (2) and movable between an open position and a closed position; and a locking device (6); the locking device (6) having a box body (7) fixed to the casing (2), alongside the door (5); latch means (8, 13) fitted to the box body (7) to move between a lock position locking the door (5), and a release position releasing the door (5); and an actuating device (11) for selectively moving the latch means (8, 13) between the lock position and the release position, and which has at least an electrically conducting resistance wire (16) made of a shape-memory alloy and designed to vary in length alongside a variation in temperature, and electric power devices (18) for powering the resistance wire (16) and producing a controlled Joule-effect variation in temperature.