Tilt-Down Control Panel with Oblong Cam Hinge for Water Tank Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Steam ovens require access to a water tank for filling, which is often located near the heating chamber, necessitating the control panel to be moved without interfering with the oven door, while maintaining continuous cooking functionality.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism allowing the control panel to tilt down non-circularly within its own space, utilizing an oblong cam, pin, pivot pieces, and a latching system with a magnet, enabling the panel to rotate and maintain access to the water tank without interrupting cooking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the control panel is moved to allow access to the water tank, then access to the water tank is enabled, but the control panel may cause mechanical conflict with the oven door
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel is transformed from a fixed component to a dynamic one that can tilt and rotate. The hinge system with oblong cam mechanism enables the control panel to change its position and orientation, allowing it to tilt downward for water tank access while returning to its original position to avoid conflict with the oven door during normal operation.
2Ease of operation
If the control panel tilts down for water tank access, then water refilling is enabled, but cooking operation may be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system is pre-configured with a latch mechanism that automatically secures the control panel in its tilted position. This preliminary action ensures that when the control panel is tilted for water refilling, the cooking operation can continue uninterrupted because the panel remains stable in the tilted position and can be easily returned to its original position afterward.
3Reliability
If a simple hinge mechanism is used for the control panel, then the mechanism is robust and reliable, but the control panel may not achieve precise non-circular movement
Solution Approach 1:
The oblong cam mechanism incorporates curved surfaces and non-circular geometry to achieve the desired non-circular movement of the control panel. The cam's shape is specifically designed to guide the control panel through the precise arc-shaped trajectory needed for tilting down and returning to the original position, combining simplicity with precision.
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
Enables uninterrupted cooking during water refilling by allowing the control panel to tilt down without mechanical conflict, ensuring aesthetics and reliability, and allowing continuous operation while accessing the water tank.
Implementation Method 1
a latching system configured to maintain the control panel within the housing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
Household appliance with a tilt-down control panel (1), comprising a housing (3) for the control panel (1), an electronic control configured to receive instructions from the control panel (1), an oblong cam (6) located besides the housing (3), a pin (7) between the oblong cam (6) and the control panel (1), a hinge system configured to provide a non-circular movement to the control panel (1) and a latching system configured to maintain the control panel (1) within the housing (3); where the oblong cam (6) receives instructions from the electronic control and rotates, pushing the pin (7) which in turn is configured to push the control panel (1) and release the control panel (1) of the latching system, such that the control panel (1), when released from the latching system, rotates around the hinge system.