Spring Energy Storage Device for Rotating Sash
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical energy storage devices for rotating leaves or doors are costly and lack reliability in maintaining a prestressed spring state, often requiring complex mechanisms for automatic operation.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical energy storage device featuring a spring guided by multiple webs, a locking device with an electromagnet that switches between blocking and releasing the webs, and a thrust washer with chamfers to manage spring tension, allowing for reliable and inexpensive production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical energy storage device uses a spring held in place after a one-off tensioning process with a locking device, then the spring can be triggered to open or close the door automatically, but the device becomes costly and lacks reliability in maintaining the prestressed spring state
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional modules: the spring mechanism for energy storage, the locking device with blocking member for state maintenance, the electromagnet for controlled release, and the thrust washer with chamfers for force management. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function reliably without requiring complex integrated mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking member acts as an intermediary between the locked and released states, physically preventing web deformation when engaged and allowing it when disengaged. The electromagnet serves as an intermediary control mechanism that reliably switches the blocking member between engaged and disengaged positions, ensuring consistent state maintenance without complex mechanical linkages.
2Reliability
If the locking device uses an electromagnet to block and release the webs, then the spring can be reliably held in the prestressed state and released on demand, but the device requires additional components that increase cost
Solution Approach 1:
The thrust washer with asymmetric chamfers performs self-service by automatically positioning itself during the spring tensioning process. The flat chamfer allows easy engagement with the web projections during installation, while the steep chamfer automatically prevents disengagement during normal operation. This self-positioning and self-locking behavior eliminates the need for additional adjustment mechanisms or complex assembly procedures, reducing manufacturing costs while ensuring reliable operation.
3Strength
If the webs are made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then the housing remains stable, but the webs cannot bend outwards to release the spring
Solution Approach 1:
The webs exhibit local quality variations: they are rigid in regions where structural support is needed (near the housing and blocking device interaction points) but flexible in the regions where spring release occurs (the portions that need to bend outward). This is achieved through strategic placement of support elements and designing the web geometry to provide stiffness where required while maintaining flexibility where needed for the release mechanism to function.
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 enables efficient and reliable storage and release of mechanical energy, allowing the spring to maintain a prestressed state for automatic operation, triggered by control signals or power failures, while being adjustable and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
the locking device has an electromagnet that interacts with the blocking device and can be switched on and off. In the switched-on position, the electromagnet brings the blocking device into contact with the webs and thereby prevents the webs from bending outwards
Implementation Method 2
a spring and a locking device that interacts with the spring and can be switched on and off, which keeps the spring pretensioned in the switched-on position
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a mechanical energy storage apparatus (10) for a rotating sash, a door, or the like, in order to drive the sash in the opening and/or closing direction, comprising: a spring (16) and a locking device (25) which interacts with the spring (16) and can be engaged and disengaged and which, in the engaged position, keeps the spring (16) preloaded, such that the sash can be driven only under the action of a motor and/or can be actuated by hand, and which, in the disengaged position, releases the spring (16), such that the sash opens or closes under the action of the spring (16), wherein a plurality of webs (12) form a channel (13) in which the spring (16) is guided, wherein the webs (12) are curved outward in order to release the spring (16) by means of the locking device (25), and the locking device (25) has a blocking device (20) which, in the engaged position of the locking device (25), blocks the webs (12) and prevents the webs (12) from bending outward and which, in the disengaged position of the locking device (25), releases the webs (12) and permits the webs (12) to bend outward.