A domestic appliance comprising a corpus, a closure element and a conductor fixed to the corpus and the closure element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household appliance devices face challenges in safely and reliably guiding electrical or water lines between the body and closure elements, often resulting in undesirable shapes such as sagging, which compromises the precision and safety of the line guidance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a spring element that exerts tensile stress on the line section, ensuring it remains under tension in both open and closed positions, with the option of varying tension based on the closure element's angle, and utilizing a separate spring mechanism or elastic deformation to maintain line integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the line is made sufficiently long to accommodate the open position of the closure element, then the closure element can move freely between open and closed positions, but the line may sag or take on undesirable shapes when not taut

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure element movementVSAvoidline shape
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a spring element that dynamically adjusts the tensile stress parameter of the line. The spring element modifies the physical state of the line from a passive, sagging configuration to an active, tension-maintained configuration. This allows the line to maintain adequate tension throughout the closure element's movement range without being excessively long, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and line shape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The spring element performs preliminary action by pre-tensioning the line before the closure element begins to move. This preliminary tensile stress ensures that the line remains taut during the entire range of motion, preventing sagging and undesirable shapes. The spring element anticipates the need for tension and provides it proactively, rather than allowing the line to become loose and then correcting it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Shape

If the line is kept under constant tension to prevent sagging, then the line maintains its shape and guidance precision, but the tension may be excessive when the closure element is in the closed position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveline shapeVSAvoidtensile stress
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by using a spring element that provides variable tensile stress rather than constant tension. The spring element's force varies dynamically with the position of the closure element - providing higher tension when the closure element is open and reducing tension when closed. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the force level to the operational requirements at each position, maintaining line shape without excessive force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a protective housing is provided for the cable section, then the line is protected from damage, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveline protectionVSAvoidguidance arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining the spring element with the line itself, creating an integrated tensioning solution. Rather than adding a separate protective housing that would increase complexity, the spring element is incorporated directly into the line assembly. This merging approach provides both protection and tensioning functionality without significantly increasing device complexity, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This solution ensures a safe and precise guidance of lines between the body and closure elements, preventing undesirable shapes like sagging and maintaining line integrity throughout the operational range of the appliance.

Implementation Method 1

the tensile stress of the line section is generated in the open position of the closure element by an elastic deformation of the line section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3379181B1A domestic appliance comprising a corpus, a closure element and a conductor fixed to the corpus and the closure element
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3379181B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3379181B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3379181B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a household appliance device (2) with a body (3) and a closure element (5) arranged thereon such that it can move between a closed position and an open position for closing a storage space located in the body (3), and with a and the line (17) arranged on the closure element (5). According to the invention, the domestic appliance device (2) comprises a spring element (18) which exerts tensile stress on at least one line section (17') of the line (17) when the closure element (5) is at least in the open position.