Soft Close Mechanism for Door Closure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic closing door mechanisms do not effectively control the closing speed of doors, leading to potential damage or noise, as they lack a mechanism to smoothly and efficiently guide the door to a fully closed position while maintaining desirable closure actuation efforts.
Innovation Solution
A soft close mechanism comprising a cam track housing, damper housing, cam follower, and cam follower spring, which stores energy when the door is opened and releases it to help fully close the door, utilizing intersecting grooves in the cam tracks to guide the cam follower and control the door's movement, thereby smoothing the closure process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an automatic closing door mechanism is used, then the door closes automatically, but the closing speed cannot be controlled leading to damage or noise
Solution Approach 1:
The cam track geometry dynamically changes the mechanical advantage throughout the closure cycle. The varying groove profiles create different lever arms at different positions, automatically adjusting the force multiplication ratio to control speed and reduce impact without additional control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the mechanical parameter (mechanical advantage) continuously through the cam track design. By varying the distance between the cam follower contact point and the hinge axis throughout the rotation, the system transforms a constant force input into a variable force output that controls closure speed and minimizes impact
2Reliability
If a soft close mechanism with cam tracks is used, then closing speed is controlled and noise is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the closure actuation function and the speed control function into a single integrated cam track mechanism. The same cam track that guides the follower also provides the variable mechanical advantage, eliminating the need for separate control systems or multiple components
Solution Approach 2:
The cam track structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the cam follower's motion path, provides the variable mechanical advantage for speed control, and defines the closure sequence. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count and system complexity
3Ease of operation
If energy is released over a longer rotational distance, then the closure effort is distributed, but the closure speed control and impact reduction are less effective
Solution Approach 1:
The cam track employs curved groove profiles that strategically position the follower contact points at different radii from the hinge axis. This curvature variation creates the desired mechanical advantage profile, concentrating force multiplication where needed for impact reduction while maintaining acceptable actuation effort
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 mechanism ensures a smooth and controlled door closure, reducing the effort required to fully close the door and minimizing noise and potential damage by releasing stored energy over a shorter rotational distance, effectively multiplying the closure effort and maintaining desirable actuation efforts.
Implementation Method 1
stores energy when the door is opened and releases it to help fully close the door
Implementation Method 2
utilizing intersecting grooves in the cam tracks to guide the cam follower and control the door's movement
Implementation Method 3
The damper housing may be configured to rotate about an axis with respect to the cam track housing
Data Source
AI summary
A soft close mechanism that may have a cam track housing, a damper housing, and a cam follower. The cam track housing may have first and second grooves. The damper housing may rotate with respect to the cam track housing. The cam follower may be disposed in the first groove when the damper housing is rotated in a first direction and may be disposed in the second groove when the damper housing is rotated in a second direction.