EP2518243A1 - Electric household appliance door locking device - Google Patents
Electric household appliance door locking device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2518243A1 EP2518243A1 EP11164054A EP11164054A EP2518243A1 EP 2518243 A1 EP2518243 A1 EP 2518243A1 EP 11164054 A EP11164054 A EP 11164054A EP 11164054 A EP11164054 A EP 11164054A EP 2518243 A1 EP2518243 A1 EP 2518243A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- latch
- door
- electric
- household appliance
- movable
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 229910001285 shape-memory alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 12
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 7
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004851 dishwashing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007257 malfunction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001000 nickel titanium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000013021 overheating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009466 transformation Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B47/00—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means
- E05B47/0001—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof
- E05B47/0009—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof with thermo-electric actuators, e.g. heated bimetals
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
- D06F37/42—Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
- D06F39/14—Doors or covers; Securing means therefor
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F24C15/00—Details
- F24C15/02—Doors specially adapted for stoves or ranges
- F24C15/022—Latches
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
- A47L15/0018—Controlling processes, i.e. processes to control the operation of the machine characterised by the purpose or target of the control
- A47L15/0049—Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
- A47L15/42—Details
- A47L15/4251—Details of the casing
- A47L15/4257—Details of the loading door
- A47L15/4259—Arrangements of locking or security/safety devices for doors, e.g. door latches, switch to stop operation when door is open
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L2401/00—Automatic detection in controlling methods of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, e.g. information provided by sensors entered into controlling devices
- A47L2401/26—Loading door status, e.g. door latch opened or closed state
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L2501/00—Output in controlling method of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. quantities or components controlled, or actions performed by the controlling device executing the controlling method
- A47L2501/32—Stopping or disabling machine operation, including disconnecting the machine from a network, e.g. from an electrical power supply
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B47/00—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means
- E05B47/06—Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents
- E05B47/0603—Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents the detent moving rectilinearly
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an electric household appliance door locking device.
- the present invention relates to a device designed to lock a door or drawer in a closed position closing an opening in the casing of an electric household appliance, such as a washing machine, drier, combination washing machine-drier, dishwashing machine, or oven, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
- an electric household appliance such as a washing machine, drier, combination washing machine-drier, dishwashing machine, or oven
- electric household appliances of the above type e.g. washing machines
- a casing e.g. a laundry compartment, such as a drum, mounted inside the casing in a position facing a laundry loading/unloading opening in the casing; and a door hinged to the casing to rotate between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the opening respectively.
- Appliances of the above type also comprise a door locking device designed to lock the door in the closed position closing the opening when the machine is running, or to release the door to allow the user to open it when the machine is in a given rest/off state.
- the lock/release devices currently used on electric household appliances normally comprise a lock mechanism, which, when the door is in the closed position, secures the door, on command, to the machine casing; an electric actuating device with a movable pin, which, depending on its position, allows or prevents the lock mechanism from securing the door to the machine casing; and an electronic control unit designed to control the electric actuating device and move the pin according to an electric signal. More specifically, the electric actuating device pin is movable axially between an extracted position forcing the lock mechanism to secure the door to the casing, and a withdrawn position preventing the lock mechanism from securing the door to the casing.
- the electric actuating device normally comprises a box body fixed to the appliance casing, alongside the opening, and housing the pin; a solenoid, i.e. an electric coil connected to electric control means by a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) protection device; and a sliding rod, which is fitted inside the solenoid, is connected at its free end to the pin by links and/or by gears with motion-transmission cams, and is moved in and out of the solenoid, between a withdrawn position and an extracted position, by the magnetic field generated by the solenoid, to control the movement of the pin.
- PTC positive temperature coefficient
- the electric actuating device also comprises a safety device designed to automatically cut off electric power to certain electronic/electric devices, normally the electric motor rotating the laundry drum, when the locking device releases the door.
- Some safety devices comprise a bimetallic spring; and a positive temperature coefficient (PCT) resistance pad positioned facing the bimetallic spring inside the box body, and which, when traversed by controlled current, lengthens/shortens the bimetallic spring to close or open an electric safety switch series-connected to the electric motor power line.
- the bimetallic spring is normally designed to cooperate mechanically with the links or gears of the electric actuating device, to prevent the door from opening when the safety switch is closed.
- a major drawback of door locking devices of the above type is the high electric consumption of the positive temperature coefficient parts, which, despite the reduction in their resistance when heated, still remain powered throughout operation of the appliance, thus resulting in a far from negligible increase in the total electric consumption of the locking device.
- locking devices of the above type also have the drawback of being fairly slow to release, by depending on the time taken by the safety device PTC pad to cool.
- an electric household appliance comprising a casing; a compartment housed inside the casing and facing an opening formed in the casing; a door fitted to the casing and movable between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the opening respectively; and a locking device for locking the door in the closed position to the casing, and in turn comprising a box body fixed to the casing, alongside the door; latch means fitted to the box body to move between at least a door lock position and a door release position; and actuating means for selectively moving said latch means between said lock position and said release position; the actuating means comprising an electrically conducting resistance wire made of a shape-memory alloy and designed to vary in length alongside a variation in temperature; and electric power means for powering said wire and producing a controlled Joule-effect variation in temperature.
- the present invention preferably also relates to a locking device for locking a door in a closed position closing an opening formed in a casing to allow access to a compartment inside the casing, the locking device comprising a box body fixed to the casing, alongside the door; latch means fitted to the box body to move between at least a door lock position and a door release position; and actuating means for selectively moving said latch means between said lock position and said release position; the actuating means comprising an electrically conducting resistance wire made of a shape-memory alloy and designed to vary in length alongside a variation in temperature; and electric power means for powering said wire and producing a controlled Joule-effect variation in temperature.
- the present invention preferably also relates to a locking device for locking in a closed position a drawer mounted to slide inside a compartment in a casing, the locking device comprising a box body fixed to the casing, alongside the drawer; latch means fitted to the box body to move between at least a drawer lock position and a drawer release position; and actuating means for selectively moving said latch means between said lock position and said release position; the actuating means comprising an electrically conducting resistance wire made of a shape-memory alloy and designed to vary in length alongside a variation in temperature; and electric power means for powering said wire and producing a controlled Joule-effect variation in temperature.
- Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole an electric household appliance preferably, though not necessarily, corresponding to a washing machine, which comprises a casing 2; an inner compartment 3 corresponding to a laundry drum mounted inside casing 2 and facing an opening 4 in casing 2; and a door 5 hinged to casing 2 to rotate, about a preferably, though not necessarily, vertical axis, between an open position and a closed position opening and closing opening 4 respectively.
- inner compartment 3 corresponds to a baking compartment formed in the oven casing
- the door corresponds to a door hinged to the casing to close the access opening to the baking compartment.
- Appliance 1 also comprises a locking device 6 for locking door 5 in the closed position closing opening 4, when appliance 1 is in a predetermined operating state, or for releasing door 5 to allow it to move, or be moved, into the open position ( Figure 1 ) when appliance 1 is in a predetermined rest state.
- locking device 6 comprises a preferably, though not necessarily, parallelepiped-shaped box body 7 having a longitudinal axis A and fixed to casing 2, alongside opening 4; and a latch 8 hinged to a first end 7a of box body 7 to rotate, about an axis of rotation B perpendicular to axis A, between a lock position ( Figure 5 ), in which latch 8 engages a catch 5a, projecting from the end of a catch arm 5b on door 5, to lock door in the closed position; a release position ( Figure 4 ), in which latch 8 is released from catch 5a on door 5, to permit withdrawal of catch 5a from latch 8 and disconnect door 5 from casing 2; and a rest position ( Figure 3 ), in which latch 8 is fully released from catch 5a on the catch arm on door 5.
- Locking device 6 also comprises an actuator 11 housed inside box body 7 and designed to move latch 8 selectively into the lock position, in which latch 8 is locked to catch 5a on door 5; into the release position, in which latch 8 is released from catch 5a to open door 5; or into the rest position, in which catch 5a is fully detached from latch 8.
- actuator 11 comprises a movable end member or carriage 12, which is mounted to slide on the major inner face of box body 7 along an axis C parallel to axis A, and is connected mechanically to latch 8 so that the axial movement of carriage 12 rotates latch 8 selectively about axis B into the rest position, lock position, or release position.
- carriage 12 is movable between a first position ( Figure 3 ) at a minimum distance from end 7a to hold latch 8 in the rest position; a second position ( Figure 4 ) at a maximum distance from end 7a to hold latch 8 in the release position; and a third position ( Figure 5 ) at an intermediate distance, between the minimum and maximum distances, from end 7a, to hold latch 8 in the lock position.
- carriage 12 moves in a reverse direction D into the second position, or in a forward direction E, opposite reverse direction D, into the first position.
- actuator 11 also comprises elastic thrust means 14 designed to exert a predetermined elastic force on carriage 12 in direction E, so as to elastically oppose the movement of carriage in reverse direction D and push it into the first position.
- Actuator 11 also comprises at least one shape-memory thrust-bearing device 15 in turn comprising at least one electrically conducting resistance wire 16 made of shape-memory alloy (SMA), and which extends parallel to axis A, has at least a first end or first portion connected to box body 7, and at least a second end or second portion connected to carriage 12, and is designed to vary in length alongside a variation in temperature, to move carriage 12 in reverse direction D; and electric wire powering means 18 for producing a controlled Joule-effect variation in the temperature and, hence, length of wire 16.
- SMA shape-memory alloy
- carriage 12 is mounted to slide inside a seat (not shown) formed in the major inner face of box body 7, and has a preferably, though not necessarily, cylindrical outer surface portion 12a, about which portions of wire 16 are wound.
- Carriage 12 is separated from latch 8 by a wall or partition 17 perpendicular to axis A, and an outer face of which, on the opposite side to carriage 12, forms an inner supporting wall of a seat 7b housing latch 8. More specifically, in the release position, the outer supporting surface, opposite the inner lock surface, of latch 8 is positioned resting on the outer face of partition 17, i.e. on the supporting wall of seat 7b housing latch 8.
- latch 8 is held in the rest position inside seat 7b by known elastic members (not shown) designed to elastically oppose rotation of latch 8 towards the supporting wall, and is connected to carriage 12 by a traction pin 13 designed to rotate latch 8 towards the supporting wall of partition 17 when carriage 12 moves in reverse direction D, or to allow the elastic members to rotate latch 8 away from the supporting wall of partition 17 when carriage 12 moves in forward direction E.
- traction pin 13 preferably extends coaxially with axis C, and comprises a rear portion 13a fixed firmly to surface portion 12a of carriage 12 wound with wire 16; a front portion 13b projecting from the lock surface of latch 8 and designed to engage a slot 5c formed in an outer surface portion of catch 5a on catch arm 5b on door 5; and an intermediate portion 13c fitted and slidable freely inside a through opening or hole in partition 17, and a through opening or hole 20 in latch 8.
- intermediate portion 13c of traction pin 13 is designed to allow latch 8 to move freely with respect to traction pin 13 and rotate between the lock position and rest position when carriage 12 is in the first position, and to hold latch 8 against partition 17 when carriage 12 is in the second position.
- Front portion 13b of traction pin 13 is designed to engage slot 5c in catch 5a on door 5 when latch 8 is in the lock position, so as to hold the lock surface of latch 8 resting on the lock surface of catch 5a and connect catch 5a to latch 8, and is designed to secure and rotate latch 8 about axis B towards partition 17 when carriage 12 moves in reverse direction D.
- elastic thrust means 14 comprise a leaf spring, i.e. a U-shaped strap of elastic, electrically conducting material, which has two ends 14a fixed rigidly to respective portions of the lateral walls 7c of box body 7 extending parallel to and on opposite sides of axis A; and a central segment 14b, preferably corresponding to the bend in the spring, fitted firmly to carriage 12 to exert elastic thrust on traction pin 13 in the forward direction E.
- leaf spring i.e. a U-shaped strap of elastic, electrically conducting material
- central segment 14b of leaf spring 14 is connected firmly to carriage 12 at rear portion 13a of traction pin 13, so as to keep traction pin 13 substantially aligned with axis C as carriage 12 moves; and the two wings 14c and 14d of spring 14 are designed to remain substantially straight and parallel to axis C when carriage 12 is in the first position, and to flex gradually outwards, in opposite directions F perpendicular to axis A, i.e. towards lateral walls 7c of box body 7, into a fully flexed position ( Figure 6 ) when carriage 12 is moved into the second position, and into a partly flexed position ( Figure 5 ) when carriage 12 is moved into the third position.
- the end of one of the wings, 14d, of spring 14 is connected to a first electric connector 18a of power means 18 by a strap of electrically conducting material; and central segment 14b of spring 14 is connected electrically to a second electric connector 18b of power means 18 by wire 16, and by an automatic switch 23, which opens automatically when electric current flow along wire 16 exceeds a predetermined maximum threshold, to prevent Joule-effect overheating and damage/failure of wire 16.
- automatic switch 23 comprises a fixed electric contact 24 connected electrically to second electric connector 18b; and an oscillating arm 25 made of electrically conducting material, and which has a free end fitted with a movable electric contact 26 facing fixed electric contact 24, and an opposite end pivoting inside box body 7 to allow arm 25 to oscillate partly, about an axis G perpendicular to axes A and B, between a closed position ( Figure 3 ) in which movable electric contact 26 rests on fixed electric contact 24, and an open position (not shown) in which movable electric contact 26 is detached from fixed electric contact 24.
- Automatic switch 23 also comprises an elastic member 27, e.g. a spring, interposed between arm 25 and an inner wall of box body 7 to hold arm 25 in the closed position; and a head 28 designed to connect the second end of wire 16 to arm 25, and which, alongside a variation in the length of wire 16, moves between a first and second position along axis C to swing arm 25 between the closed and open positions.
- an elastic member 27 e.g. a spring
- Elastic member 27 is designed so that head 28, activated by wire 16, moves arm 25 into the open position when current flow along wire 16 exceeds the predetermined maximum threshold.
- first end of wire 16 is connected electrically to central segment 14b of spring 14, and the second end is connected to a preferably, though not necessarily, central portion of arm 25.
- wire 16 is made of nickel-titanium alloy, and is wound about head 28 and cylindrical portion 12a of carriage 12 to form a coil. More specifically, wire 16 is long enough to wind about carriage 12 and head 28 in a number of turns, which are kept taut between head 28 and carriage 12, and define five wire branches extending between carriage 12 and head 28 and substantially parallel to axis A.
- wire 16 has a total length, measured between the first and second end at ambient temperature, of roughly 387 mm, is roughly 0.2 mm in diameter, and is designed to vary in crystalline structure, and therefore length, when subjected to a predetermined transformation temperature, e.g. of roughly 100°C.
- carriage 12 and head 28 may either be connected or comprise two comb members 50, 51 mounted inside box body 7 to slide, parallel to axis C, between the positions described above; elastic thrust means 14 comprise one or more springs 52 interposed between comb members 51 and 52; and wire 16 advantageously comprises a crimped wire inserted inside the gaps between the teeth of comb members 50 and 51, with the crimped ends 53 resting on opposite outer faces of comb members 50 and 51.
- crimped ends 53 are equally spaced along wire 16, and, when the wire is inserted inside the gaps in comb members 50 and 51, keep comb members 50, 51 parallel to each other and a given distance apart.
- a crimped wire 16 in comb members 50, 51 of carriage 12 and head 28 has the big advantage of enabling fast, low-cost assembly of the wire to head 28 and carriage 12, and ensuring correct spacing of head 28 and carriage 12 by means of the crimped ends, which act as locators when assembling the device.
- Locking device 6 also comprises a safety switch 29 designed to cooperate with latch 8, catch 5a, and actuator 11 to cut off electric power supply to one or more electric/electronic devices of appliance 1, such as the electric motor powering the laundry drum, in the event of a predetermined hazard situation associated with failure to lock, or only partial locking of, door 5 in the closed position.
- a safety switch 29 designed to cooperate with latch 8, catch 5a, and actuator 11 to cut off electric power supply to one or more electric/electronic devices of appliance 1, such as the electric motor powering the laundry drum, in the event of a predetermined hazard situation associated with failure to lock, or only partial locking of, door 5 in the closed position.
- Safety switch 29 is connected by connectors 32 of locking device 6 to a power line powering electric/electronic devices (not shown) of appliance 1, e.g. the line powering the electric motor of the drum of appliance 1, and is designed to automatically switch to the open position to cut off the power line when latch 8 is in any other than the lock position, and to automatically switch to the closed position, not cutting off the power line, when latch 8 is in the fully locked position.
- a power line powering electric/electronic devices not shown
- safety switch 29 comprises a fixed electric contact 30 connected in a fixed position to box body 7; and a movable electric contact 31 fitted to box body 7 to move to and from fixed electric contact 30 to open/close safety switch 29.
- fixed electric contact 30 is located on the free end of a fixed arm made of electrically conducting material, and which extends parallel to axis A, is positioned facing and alongside wing 14d, and is connected at the opposite end to a first electric connector 32.
- movable electric contact 31 is located on an intermediate portion of a movable arm made of electrically conducting material, and which extends parallel to axis A, is located between the fixed arm and a lateral wall 7c, on the opposite side to wing 14d, and is connected electrically to a second electric connector 32.
- the movable arm fitted with movable electric contact 31 is designed to move movable electric contact 31 to and from fixed electric contact 30 in a direction substantially perpendicular to axis A.
- Safety switch 29 also comprises a safety pin 34 fitted to latch 8, and which, as latch 8 rotates, moves axially in direction D along an axis H parallel to axis A, and in opposition to elastic devices, e.g. a spring (not shown) fitted to safety pin 34, between latch 8 and partition 17; and a lever mechanism 35 interposed between safety pin 34 and movable electric contact 31, and designed to move movable electric contact 31 between the closed position and the open position as safety pin 34 moves axially.
- elastic devices e.g. a spring (not shown) fitted to safety pin 34, between latch 8 and partition 17
- a lever mechanism 35 interposed between safety pin 34 and movable electric contact 31, and designed to move movable electric contact 31 between the closed position and the open position as safety pin 34 moves axially.
- lever mechanism 35 comprises a substantially inverted-L-shaped arm, the short leg of which has a first end 35a resting on movable electric contact 31, and the long leg of which has a second end fixed firmly to safety pin 34, and a curved central portion resting in sliding manner on a guide or supporting portion 36 fixed firmly to box body 7.
- the guide or supporting portion 36 is located at partition 17, between lever mechanism 35 and carriage 12, and is shaped to form a surface sloping with respect to axis A, i.e. a cam, and on which the central portion of lever mechanism 35 slides as the lever mechanism withdraws inside box body 7.
- the sloping surface of supporting portion 36 is designed to slide lever mechanism 35 between a minimum withdrawal position, in which first end 35a keeps movable electric contact 31 at a maximum distance from fixed electric contact 30, and a maximum withdrawal position, in which the bend connecting the long and short legs of lever mechanism 35 is positioned close to wing 14d, and first end 35a holds movable electric contact 31 resting on fixed electric contact 30.
- lever mechanism 35 As wing 14d inside box body 7 flexes in direction F, it also moves lever mechanism 35 from the maximum withdrawal position closing safety switch 29, to a safety position, in which first end 35a of lever mechanism 35 pushes movable electric contact 31 in direction F, thus detaching it from fixed electric contact 30 and opening safety switch 29.
- safety pin 34 is located alongside traction pin 13 and fitted in axially sliding manner through a hole in partition 17 and a hole in latch 8.
- the rear end of safety pin 34 is connected to lever mechanism 35, and the opposite end has a head 34a, which projects inside a lock groove 8a formed in latch 8 and designed to receive a projecting portion of catch 5a on door 5.
- the projecting portion of catch 5a on door 5, and the lock groove 8a in the latch are complementary in shape, so that the projecting portion, as it engages lock groove 8a, pushes safety pin 34 axially in direction D.
- locking device 6 also comprises a mechanical manual release mechanism 40, by which to release door 5 manually in the event of power failure to locking device 6 and/or a malfunction of actuator 11 caused, for example, by wire 16 breaking.
- mechanical manual release mechanism 40 comprises a lever 41 connected firmly to latch 8 to rotate about axis B and rotate latch 8 from the lock position to the release position; a through opening 42 extending, perpendicularly to axis B, through casing 2 and box body 7, and having a first end in view and accessible from outside appliance 1, and a second end facing lever 41; and a manual release tool 43, which can be inserted inside opening 42 and operated manually to exert force on lever 41 to rotate latch 8 from the closed to the open position.
- manual release tool 43 comprises a threaded rod, which screws manually inside a preferably small-pitch nut screw inside the opening, so as to move longitudinally to and from lever 41 and so rotate latch 8 from the closed to the open position.
- locking device 6 Operation of locking device 6 will now be described with reference to Figures 3 , 4 , 5 and 6 , and as of the condition in which door 5 is open and latch 8 is free, i.e. is completely detached from catch 5a on the catch arm on door 5 ( Figure 3 ).
- carriage 12 is in the first position; wings 14c and 14d of elastic thrust means 14 are substantially parallel to each other and to axis A; head 28 is held in the first position by oscillating arm 25, thus closing automatic switch 23; and safety pin 34 is fully extracted by the elastic devices, and holds lever mechanism 35 in the minimum withdrawal position in which first end 35a keeps movable electric contact 31 at the maximum distance from fixed electric contact 30, thus opening safety switch 29.
- safety pin 34 withdraws axially, pushed partly by catch 5a, and slides lever mechanism 35 in direction D along supporting portion 36.
- traction pin 13 moves from the first to the second position in opposition to the elastic force exerted by wings 14c and 14d, which flex gradually outwards into the fully flexed position, in which one of them intercepts and moves lever mechanism 35 in direction F into the safety position holding safety switch 29 in the open position.
- door 5 is fully closed when the projecting portion of catch 5a engages the lock groove 8a in latch 8.
- latch 8 is held onto catch 5a by the thrust members; elastic thrust means 14 push carriage 12 axially in direction E into the third position to insert the front portion of safety pin 34 into slot 5c in catch 5a; wings 14c and 14d move from the fully flexed to the partly flexed position; and the projecting portion of catch 5a pushes safety pin 34 axially along supporting portion 36 of the box body into the maximum withdrawal position, in which first end 35a of lever mechanism 35 brings movable contact 31 into contact with fixed contact 30 to close safety switch 29 and so power the motor.
- door 5 can be moved from the closed to the open position when electronic control means (not shown) controlling electric power means 18 supply electric connectors 18a, 18b with a predetermined electric current, which produces a controlled Joule-effect variation in the temperature of wire 16 to shorten the wire.
- electronic control means not shown
- electric power means 18 supply electric connectors 18a, 18b with a predetermined electric current, which produces a controlled Joule-effect variation in the temperature of wire 16 to shorten the wire.
- carriage 12 moves from the third to the second position, and traction pin 13 withdraws axially in direction D to rotate latch 8 from the lock position to the release position ( Figure 6 ).
- wings 14c and 14d flex outwards into the fully flexed position, in which one of them (wing 14d in Figure 6 ) pushes lever mechanism 35 in direction F into the safety position opening safety switch 29.
- traction pin 13 is held in the withdrawn position by carriage 12 and is therefore fully detached from slot 5c in catch 5a, which can therefore be withdrawn from latch 8 by exerting thrust on door 5 away from casing 2.
- door 5 may be fitted with an elastic seal designed to push it away from casing 2, or elastic means may be interposed between casing 2 and door 5 to move door 5 automatically into the open position when locking device 6 is released.
- the electronic control means (not shown) can cut off current supply to connectors 18a, 18b to gradually cool wire 16. As it cools, wire 16 increases in length and, at the same time, elastic thrust means 14 restore carriage 12 to the first position, thus extracting traction pin 13 and allowing the elastic members to restore latch 8 to the rest position ( Figure 3 ).
- latch 8 In the release position ( Figure 4 ), latch 8 is secured by traction pin 13 to carriage 12, and rests against partition 17 to prevent any further withdrawal of carriage 12 in direction D. Any increase, over and above the predetermined threshold, in current flow through wire 16 therefore produces a further reduction in the length of wire 16, which moves head 28 in direction E, in opposition to the force exerted by elastic member 27 on oscillating arm 25, so oscillating arm 25 rotates into the open position opening automatic switch 23.
- locking device 6 may also be used to advantage in technical applications other than electric household appliances as described above.
- it may be used to lock a drawer or door in a closed position closing a compartment formed in furniture, or in vehicles, such as motor vehicles, aircraft, trains, ships, or similar.
- the locking device described has the advantage of being electrically and mechanically simpler, and therefore faster and cheaper to produce.
- the safety switch of the locking device is designed to only supply power, e.g. to the electric motor, when the door is fully closed, thus making the appliance safer.
- the locking device is also efficient in terms of energy saving, by featuring no electronic, positive-temperature-coefficient components.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)
- Push-Button Switches (AREA)
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
- Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an electric household appliance door locking device.
- More specifically, the present invention relates to a device designed to lock a door or drawer in a closed position closing an opening in the casing of an electric household appliance, such as a washing machine, drier, combination washing machine-drier, dishwashing machine, or oven, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
- As is known, electric household appliances of the above type, e.g. washing machines, comprise a casing; a laundry compartment, such as a drum, mounted inside the casing in a position facing a laundry loading/unloading opening in the casing; and a door hinged to the casing to rotate between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the opening respectively.
- Appliances of the above type, e.g. washing machines, also comprise a door locking device designed to lock the door in the closed position closing the opening when the machine is running, or to release the door to allow the user to open it when the machine is in a given rest/off state.
- The lock/release devices currently used on electric household appliances normally comprise a lock mechanism, which, when the door is in the closed position, secures the door, on command, to the machine casing; an electric actuating device with a movable pin, which, depending on its position, allows or prevents the lock mechanism from securing the door to the machine casing; and an electronic control unit designed to control the electric actuating device and move the pin according to an electric signal. More specifically, the electric actuating device pin is movable axially between an extracted position forcing the lock mechanism to secure the door to the casing, and a withdrawn position preventing the lock mechanism from securing the door to the casing.
- The electric actuating device normally comprises a box body fixed to the appliance casing, alongside the opening, and housing the pin; a solenoid, i.e. an electric coil connected to electric control means by a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) protection device; and a sliding rod, which is fitted inside the solenoid, is connected at its free end to the pin by links and/or by gears with motion-transmission cams, and is moved in and out of the solenoid, between a withdrawn position and an extracted position, by the magnetic field generated by the solenoid, to control the movement of the pin.
- The electric actuating device also comprises a safety device designed to automatically cut off electric power to certain electronic/electric devices, normally the electric motor rotating the laundry drum, when the locking device releases the door.
- Some safety devices comprise a bimetallic spring; and a positive temperature coefficient (PCT) resistance pad positioned facing the bimetallic spring inside the box body, and which, when traversed by controlled current, lengthens/shortens the bimetallic spring to close or open an electric safety switch series-connected to the electric motor power line. The bimetallic spring is normally designed to cooperate mechanically with the links or gears of the electric actuating device, to prevent the door from opening when the safety switch is closed.
- A major drawback of door locking devices of the above type is the high electric consumption of the positive temperature coefficient parts, which, despite the reduction in their resistance when heated, still remain powered throughout operation of the appliance, thus resulting in a far from negligible increase in the total electric consumption of the locking device.
- Besides being fairly complicated and therefore expensive to produce, locking devices of the above type also have the drawback of being fairly slow to release, by depending on the time taken by the safety device PTC pad to cool.
- Extensive research has been carried out by the Applicant to devise a door locking device which :
- is electrically and mechanically simpler, and so cheaper and easier to produce; and
- has no electronic, positive temperature coefficient components, thus reducing operating power consumption as compared with the door lock/release devices described.
- It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a solution designed to achieve the above goals.
- According to the present invention, there is provided an electric household appliance comprising a casing; a compartment housed inside the casing and facing an opening formed in the casing; a door fitted to the casing and movable between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the opening respectively; and a locking device for locking the door in the closed position to the casing, and in turn comprising a box body fixed to the casing, alongside the door; latch means fitted to the box body to move between at least a door lock position and a door release position; and actuating means for selectively moving said latch means between said lock position and said release position; the actuating means comprising an electrically conducting resistance wire made of a shape-memory alloy and designed to vary in length alongside a variation in temperature; and electric power means for powering said wire and producing a controlled Joule-effect variation in temperature.
- The present invention preferably also relates to a locking device for locking a door in a closed position closing an opening formed in a casing to allow access to a compartment inside the casing, the locking device comprising a box body fixed to the casing, alongside the door; latch means fitted to the box body to move between at least a door lock position and a door release position; and actuating means for selectively moving said latch means between said lock position and said release position; the actuating means comprising an electrically conducting resistance wire made of a shape-memory alloy and designed to vary in length alongside a variation in temperature; and electric power means for powering said wire and producing a controlled Joule-effect variation in temperature.
- The present invention preferably also relates to a locking device for locking in a closed position a drawer mounted to slide inside a compartment in a casing, the locking device comprising a box body fixed to the casing, alongside the drawer; latch means fitted to the box body to move between at least a drawer lock position and a drawer release position; and actuating means for selectively moving said latch means between said lock position and said release position; the actuating means comprising an electrically conducting resistance wire made of a shape-memory alloy and designed to vary in length alongside a variation in temperature; and electric power means for powering said wire and producing a controlled Joule-effect variation in temperature.
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Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of an electric household appliance featuring a locking device in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; -
Figure 2 shows a view in perspective, with parts removed for clarity, of theFigure 1 locking device; -
Figures 3 to 6 show schematics of the locking device in respective operating states; -
Figure 7 shows a release member for manually releasing theFigure 1 locking device; -
Figure 8 shows a variation of theFigure 1 locking device. - The following is a detailed description of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, to enable its production and use by a person skilled in the art. As will be clear to anyone skilled in the art, changes may be made to the embodiments described, and the general principles described may also be applied to other embodiments and applications without, however, departing from the protective scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying Claims. In other words, the present invention is not to be inferred as limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, but shall be accorded the widest protective scope consistent with the principles and characteristics described and claimed herein.
- Number 1 in
Figure 1 indicates as a whole an electric household appliance preferably, though not necessarily, corresponding to a washing machine, which comprises acasing 2; aninner compartment 3 corresponding to a laundry drum mounted insidecasing 2 and facing an opening 4 incasing 2; and adoor 5 hinged tocasing 2 to rotate, about a preferably, though not necessarily, vertical axis, between an open position and a closed position opening and closing opening 4 respectively. - In connection with the above, it should be stressed that, though the following description refers specifically to an electric household appliance corresponding to a washing machine, the present invention also applies to other types of electric household appliances, such as driers, combination washing machine-driers, dishwashers, or ovens; in which latter case,
inner compartment 3 corresponds to a baking compartment formed in the oven casing, and the door corresponds to a door hinged to the casing to close the access opening to the baking compartment. - Appliance 1 also comprises a
locking device 6 forlocking door 5 in the closed position closing opening 4, when appliance 1 is in a predetermined operating state, or for releasingdoor 5 to allow it to move, or be moved, into the open position (Figure 1 ) when appliance 1 is in a predetermined rest state. - With reference to
Figures 1 and2 ,locking device 6 comprises a preferably, though not necessarily, parallelepiped-shaped box body 7 having a longitudinal axis A and fixed tocasing 2, alongside opening 4; and alatch 8 hinged to afirst end 7a ofbox body 7 to rotate, about an axis of rotation B perpendicular to axis A, between a lock position (Figure 5 ), in whichlatch 8 engages acatch 5a, projecting from the end of acatch arm 5b ondoor 5, to lock door in the closed position; a release position (Figure 4 ), in whichlatch 8 is released fromcatch 5a ondoor 5, to permit withdrawal ofcatch 5a fromlatch 8 anddisconnect door 5 fromcasing 2; and a rest position (Figure 3 ), in whichlatch 8 is fully released fromcatch 5a on the catch arm ondoor 5. -
Locking device 6 also comprises anactuator 11 housed insidebox body 7 and designed to movelatch 8 selectively into the lock position, in whichlatch 8 is locked to catch 5a ondoor 5; into the release position, in whichlatch 8 is released fromcatch 5a to opendoor 5; or into the rest position, in whichcatch 5a is fully detached fromlatch 8. - In the
Figure 2-6 embodiment,actuator 11 comprises a movable end member orcarriage 12, which is mounted to slide on the major inner face ofbox body 7 along an axis C parallel to axis A, and is connected mechanically tolatch 8 so that the axial movement ofcarriage 12 rotateslatch 8 selectively about axis B into the rest position, lock position, or release position. - More specifically,
carriage 12 is movable between a first position (Figure 3 ) at a minimum distance fromend 7a to holdlatch 8 in the rest position; a second position (Figure 4 ) at a maximum distance fromend 7a to holdlatch 8 in the release position; and a third position (Figure 5 ) at an intermediate distance, between the minimum and maximum distances, fromend 7a, to holdlatch 8 in the lock position. - More specifically,
carriage 12 moves in a reverse direction D into the second position, or in a forward direction E, opposite reverse direction D, into the first position. - In the
Figure 2-6 embodiment,actuator 11 also comprises elastic thrust means 14 designed to exert a predetermined elastic force oncarriage 12 in direction E, so as to elastically oppose the movement of carriage in reverse direction D and push it into the first position. -
Actuator 11 also comprises at least one shape-memory thrust-bearingdevice 15 in turn comprising at least one electrically conductingresistance wire 16 made of shape-memory alloy (SMA), and which extends parallel to axis A, has at least a first end or first portion connected tobox body 7, and at least a second end or second portion connected tocarriage 12, and is designed to vary in length alongside a variation in temperature, to movecarriage 12 in reverse direction D; and electric wire powering means 18 for producing a controlled Joule-effect variation in the temperature and, hence, length ofwire 16. - In a preferred embodiment shown in
Figure 2 ,carriage 12 is mounted to slide inside a seat (not shown) formed in the major inner face ofbox body 7, and has a preferably, though not necessarily, cylindricalouter surface portion 12a, about which portions ofwire 16 are wound. -
Carriage 12 is separated fromlatch 8 by a wall orpartition 17 perpendicular to axis A, and an outer face of which, on the opposite side tocarriage 12, forms an inner supporting wall of aseat 7b housing latch 8. More specifically, in the release position, the outer supporting surface, opposite the inner lock surface, oflatch 8 is positioned resting on the outer face ofpartition 17, i.e. on the supporting wall ofseat 7b housing latch 8. - In the
Figure 2-6 example,latch 8 is held in the rest position insideseat 7b by known elastic members (not shown) designed to elastically oppose rotation oflatch 8 towards the supporting wall, and is connected tocarriage 12 by atraction pin 13 designed to rotatelatch 8 towards the supporting wall ofpartition 17 whencarriage 12 moves in reverse direction D, or to allow the elastic members to rotatelatch 8 away from the supporting wall ofpartition 17 whencarriage 12 moves in forward direction E. - In the
Figure 3-6 example,traction pin 13 preferably extends coaxially with axis C, and comprises arear portion 13a fixed firmly tosurface portion 12a ofcarriage 12 wound withwire 16; a front portion 13b projecting from the lock surface oflatch 8 and designed to engage aslot 5c formed in an outer surface portion ofcatch 5a oncatch arm 5b ondoor 5; and anintermediate portion 13c fitted and slidable freely inside a through opening or hole inpartition 17, and a through opening or hole 20 inlatch 8. - In a preferred embodiment shown in
Figures 3-6 ,intermediate portion 13c oftraction pin 13 is designed to allowlatch 8 to move freely with respect totraction pin 13 and rotate between the lock position and rest position whencarriage 12 is in the first position, and to holdlatch 8 againstpartition 17 whencarriage 12 is in the second position. - Front portion 13b of
traction pin 13 is designed to engageslot 5c incatch 5a ondoor 5 whenlatch 8 is in the lock position, so as to hold the lock surface oflatch 8 resting on the lock surface ofcatch 5a and connectcatch 5a tolatch 8, and is designed to secure and rotatelatch 8 about axis B towardspartition 17 whencarriage 12 moves in reverse direction D. - In a preferred embodiment, elastic thrust means 14 comprise a leaf spring, i.e. a U-shaped strap of elastic, electrically conducting material, which has two
ends 14a fixed rigidly to respective portions of thelateral walls 7c ofbox body 7 extending parallel to and on opposite sides of axis A; and a central segment 14b, preferably corresponding to the bend in the spring, fitted firmly tocarriage 12 to exert elastic thrust ontraction pin 13 in the forward direction E. - In the
Figure 2-6 example, central segment 14b ofleaf spring 14 is connected firmly tocarriage 12 atrear portion 13a oftraction pin 13, so as to keeptraction pin 13 substantially aligned with axis C ascarriage 12 moves; and the twowings spring 14 are designed to remain substantially straight and parallel to axis C whencarriage 12 is in the first position, and to flex gradually outwards, in opposite directions F perpendicular to axis A, i.e. towardslateral walls 7c ofbox body 7, into a fully flexed position (Figure 6 ) whencarriage 12 is moved into the second position, and into a partly flexed position (Figure 5 ) whencarriage 12 is moved into the third position. - The end of one of the wings, 14d, of
spring 14 is connected to a firstelectric connector 18a of power means 18 by a strap of electrically conducting material; and central segment 14b ofspring 14 is connected electrically to a secondelectric connector 18b of power means 18 bywire 16, and by anautomatic switch 23, which opens automatically when electric current flow alongwire 16 exceeds a predetermined maximum threshold, to prevent Joule-effect overheating and damage/failure ofwire 16. - In the preferred embodiment in
Figures 2-6 ,automatic switch 23 comprises a fixedelectric contact 24 connected electrically to secondelectric connector 18b; and an oscillatingarm 25 made of electrically conducting material, and which has a free end fitted with a movableelectric contact 26 facing fixedelectric contact 24, and an opposite end pivoting insidebox body 7 to allowarm 25 to oscillate partly, about an axis G perpendicular to axes A and B, between a closed position (Figure 3 ) in which movableelectric contact 26 rests on fixedelectric contact 24, and an open position (not shown) in which movableelectric contact 26 is detached from fixedelectric contact 24. -
Automatic switch 23 also comprises anelastic member 27, e.g. a spring, interposed betweenarm 25 and an inner wall ofbox body 7 to holdarm 25 in the closed position; and ahead 28 designed to connect the second end ofwire 16 toarm 25, and which, alongside a variation in the length ofwire 16, moves between a first and second position along axis C to swingarm 25 between the closed and open positions. -
Elastic member 27 is designed so thathead 28, activated bywire 16, movesarm 25 into the open position when current flow alongwire 16 exceeds the predetermined maximum threshold. - In the preferred embodiment in
Figure 2 , the first end ofwire 16 is connected electrically to central segment 14b ofspring 14, and the second end is connected to a preferably, though not necessarily, central portion ofarm 25. - In the
Figure 2-6 example,wire 16 is made of nickel-titanium alloy, and is wound abouthead 28 andcylindrical portion 12a ofcarriage 12 to form a coil. More specifically,wire 16 is long enough to wind aboutcarriage 12 andhead 28 in a number of turns, which are kept taut betweenhead 28 andcarriage 12, and define five wire branches extending betweencarriage 12 andhead 28 and substantially parallel to axis A. - In the
Figure 2-6 example,wire 16 has a total length, measured between the first and second end at ambient temperature, of roughly 387 mm, is roughly 0.2 mm in diameter, and is designed to vary in crystalline structure, and therefore length, when subjected to a predetermined transformation temperature, e.g. of roughly 100°C. - In a different embodiment shown in
Figure 8 ,carriage 12 andhead 28 may either be connected or comprise twocomb members box body 7 to slide, parallel to axis C, between the positions described above; elastic thrust means 14 comprise one ormore springs 52 interposed betweencomb members wire 16 advantageously comprises a crimped wire inserted inside the gaps between the teeth ofcomb members crimped ends 53 resting on opposite outer faces ofcomb members crimped ends 53 are equally spaced alongwire 16, and, when the wire is inserted inside the gaps incomb members comb members - Using a crimped
wire 16 incomb members carriage 12 andhead 28 has the big advantage of enabling fast, low-cost assembly of the wire tohead 28 andcarriage 12, and ensuring correct spacing ofhead 28 andcarriage 12 by means of the crimped ends, which act as locators when assembling the device. -
Locking device 6 also comprises asafety switch 29 designed to cooperate withlatch 8,catch 5a, andactuator 11 to cut off electric power supply to one or more electric/electronic devices of appliance 1, such as the electric motor powering the laundry drum, in the event of a predetermined hazard situation associated with failure to lock, or only partial locking of,door 5 in the closed position. -
Safety switch 29 is connected byconnectors 32 oflocking device 6 to a power line powering electric/electronic devices (not shown) of appliance 1, e.g. the line powering the electric motor of the drum of appliance 1, and is designed to automatically switch to the open position to cut off the power line whenlatch 8 is in any other than the lock position, and to automatically switch to the closed position, not cutting off the power line, whenlatch 8 is in the fully locked position. - In the preferred embodiment in
Figure 2 ,safety switch 29 comprises a fixedelectric contact 30 connected in a fixed position tobox body 7; and a movableelectric contact 31 fitted tobox body 7 to move to and from fixedelectric contact 30 to open/close safety switch 29. - More specifically, in the
Figure 2-6 example, fixedelectric contact 30 is located on the free end of a fixed arm made of electrically conducting material, and which extends parallel to axis A, is positioned facing and alongsidewing 14d, and is connected at the opposite end to a firstelectric connector 32. And movableelectric contact 31 is located on an intermediate portion of a movable arm made of electrically conducting material, and which extends parallel to axis A, is located between the fixed arm and alateral wall 7c, on the opposite side towing 14d, and is connected electrically to a secondelectric connector 32. - The movable arm fitted with movable
electric contact 31 is designed to move movableelectric contact 31 to and from fixedelectric contact 30 in a direction substantially perpendicular to axis A. -
Safety switch 29 also comprises asafety pin 34 fitted to latch 8, and which, aslatch 8 rotates, moves axially in direction D along an axis H parallel to axis A, and in opposition to elastic devices, e.g. a spring (not shown) fitted tosafety pin 34, betweenlatch 8 andpartition 17; and alever mechanism 35 interposed betweensafety pin 34 and movableelectric contact 31, and designed to move movableelectric contact 31 between the closed position and the open position assafety pin 34 moves axially. - In the preferred embodiment shown in
Figure 2 ,lever mechanism 35 comprises a substantially inverted-L-shaped arm, the short leg of which has afirst end 35a resting on movableelectric contact 31, and the long leg of which has a second end fixed firmly tosafety pin 34, and a curved central portion resting in sliding manner on a guide or supportingportion 36 fixed firmly tobox body 7. - The guide or supporting
portion 36 is located atpartition 17, betweenlever mechanism 35 andcarriage 12, and is shaped to form a surface sloping with respect to axis A, i.e. a cam, and on which the central portion oflever mechanism 35 slides as the lever mechanism withdraws insidebox body 7. - More specifically, the sloping surface of supporting
portion 36 is designed to slidelever mechanism 35 between a minimum withdrawal position, in whichfirst end 35a keeps movableelectric contact 31 at a maximum distance from fixedelectric contact 30, and a maximum withdrawal position, in which the bend connecting the long and short legs oflever mechanism 35 is positioned close towing 14d, andfirst end 35a holds movableelectric contact 31 resting on fixedelectric contact 30. - As
wing 14d insidebox body 7 flexes in direction F, it also moveslever mechanism 35 from the maximum withdrawal position closingsafety switch 29, to a safety position, in whichfirst end 35a oflever mechanism 35 pushes movableelectric contact 31 in direction F, thus detaching it from fixedelectric contact 30 andopening safety switch 29. - In a preferred embodiment shown in
Figures 2-6 ,safety pin 34 is located alongsidetraction pin 13 and fitted in axially sliding manner through a hole inpartition 17 and a hole inlatch 8. The rear end ofsafety pin 34 is connected tolever mechanism 35, and the opposite end has ahead 34a, which projects inside alock groove 8a formed inlatch 8 and designed to receive a projecting portion ofcatch 5a ondoor 5. - More specifically, the projecting portion of
catch 5a ondoor 5, and thelock groove 8a in the latch are complementary in shape, so that the projecting portion, as it engageslock groove 8a, pushessafety pin 34 axially in direction D. - In the
Figure 7 embodiment, lockingdevice 6 also comprises a mechanicalmanual release mechanism 40, by which to releasedoor 5 manually in the event of power failure to lockingdevice 6 and/or a malfunction ofactuator 11 caused, for example, bywire 16 breaking. - More specifically, mechanical
manual release mechanism 40 comprises a lever 41 connected firmly to latch 8 to rotate about axis B and rotatelatch 8 from the lock position to the release position; a throughopening 42 extending, perpendicularly to axis B, throughcasing 2 andbox body 7, and having a first end in view and accessible from outside appliance 1, and a second end facing lever 41; and amanual release tool 43, which can be inserted inside opening 42 and operated manually to exert force on lever 41 to rotatelatch 8 from the closed to the open position. - In a preferred embodiment shown in
Figure 7 ,manual release tool 43 comprises a threaded rod, which screws manually inside a preferably small-pitch nut screw inside the opening, so as to move longitudinally to and from lever 41 and so rotatelatch 8 from the closed to the open position. - Operation of locking
device 6 will now be described with reference toFigures 3 ,4 ,5 and6 , and as of the condition in whichdoor 5 is open andlatch 8 is free, i.e. is completely detached fromcatch 5a on the catch arm on door 5 (Figure 3 ). - At this stage,
traction pin 13 is fully extracted, because of the thrust exerted by elastic thrust means 14 oncarriage 12, solatch 8 is pushed by the elastic members into the rest position. - In the
Figure 3 condition,carriage 12 is in the first position;wings head 28 is held in the first position by oscillatingarm 25, thus closingautomatic switch 23; andsafety pin 34 is fully extracted by the elastic devices, and holdslever mechanism 35 in the minimum withdrawal position in whichfirst end 35a keeps movableelectric contact 31 at the maximum distance from fixedelectric contact 30, thus openingsafety switch 29. - With reference to
Figures 4 and5 , whendoor 5 is pushed into the closed position, the lock surface ofcatch 5a slides on the lock surface oflatch 8, so thatlatch 8 first rotates towardspartition 17 from the rest position to the release position (Figure 4 ), and then rotates in the opposite direction to fully engagecatch 5a ondoor 5, with the projecting portion (not shown) ofcatch 5a seated completely insidegroove 8a in latch 8 (Figure 5 ). - With reference to
Figure 4 , during the first rotation oflatch 8,safety pin 34 withdraws axially, pushed partly bycatch 5a, and slideslever mechanism 35 in direction D along supportingportion 36. At the same time,traction pin 13 moves from the first to the second position in opposition to the elastic force exerted bywings lever mechanism 35 in direction F into the safety position holdingsafety switch 29 in the open position. - With reference to
Figure 5 ,door 5 is fully closed when the projecting portion ofcatch 5a engages thelock groove 8a inlatch 8. At this stage,latch 8 is held ontocatch 5a by the thrust members; elastic thrust means 14push carriage 12 axially in direction E into the third position to insert the front portion ofsafety pin 34 intoslot 5c incatch 5a;wings catch 5a pushessafety pin 34 axially along supportingportion 36 of the box body into the maximum withdrawal position, in whichfirst end 35a oflever mechanism 35 bringsmovable contact 31 into contact withfixed contact 30 to closesafety switch 29 and so power the motor. - With reference to
Figure 6 ,door 5 can be moved from the closed to the open position when electronic control means (not shown) controlling electric power means 18supply electric connectors wire 16 to shorten the wire. As the wire shortens,carriage 12 moves from the third to the second position, andtraction pin 13 withdraws axially in direction D to rotatelatch 8 from the lock position to the release position (Figure 6 ). Ascarriage 12 withdraws,wings wing 14d inFigure 6 ) pusheslever mechanism 35 in direction F into the safety position openingsafety switch 29. - At this point,
traction pin 13 is held in the withdrawn position bycarriage 12 and is therefore fully detached fromslot 5c incatch 5a, which can therefore be withdrawn fromlatch 8 by exerting thrust ondoor 5 away fromcasing 2. - Accordingly,
door 5 may be fitted with an elastic seal designed to push it away fromcasing 2, or elastic means may be interposed betweencasing 2 anddoor 5 to movedoor 5 automatically into the open position when lockingdevice 6 is released. - Once
door 5 is opened, the electronic control means (not shown) can cut off current supply toconnectors cool wire 16. As it cools,wire 16 increases in length and, at the same time, elastic thrust means 14 restorecarriage 12 to the first position, thus extractingtraction pin 13 and allowing the elastic members to restorelatch 8 to the rest position (Figure 3 ). - In the release position (
Figure 4 ),latch 8 is secured bytraction pin 13 tocarriage 12, and rests againstpartition 17 to prevent any further withdrawal ofcarriage 12 in direction D. Any increase, over and above the predetermined threshold, in current flow throughwire 16 therefore produces a further reduction in the length ofwire 16, which moveshead 28 in direction E, in opposition to the force exerted byelastic member 27 on oscillatingarm 25, sooscillating arm 25 rotates into the open position openingautomatic switch 23. - In connection with the above, it should be pointed out that, in a different embodiment, locking
device 6 may also be used to advantage in technical applications other than electric household appliances as described above. For example, it may be used to lock a drawer or door in a closed position closing a compartment formed in furniture, or in vehicles, such as motor vehicles, aircraft, trains, ships, or similar. - The locking device described has the advantage of being electrically and mechanically simpler, and therefore faster and cheaper to produce.
- In addition, besides being easy to produce, the safety switch of the locking device is designed to only supply power, e.g. to the electric motor, when the door is fully closed, thus making the appliance safer.
- The locking device is also efficient in terms of energy saving, by featuring no electronic, positive-temperature-coefficient components.
- Clearly, changes may be made to the locking device as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the protective scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying Claims.
Claims (15)
- An electric household appliance comprising : a casing (2); a compartment (3) housed inside the casing (2) and facing an opening (4) formed in the casing (2); a door (5) fitted to the casing (2) and movable between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the opening (4) respectively; and a locking device (6) for locking the door (5) in the closed position to the casing (2);
said locking device (6) being characterized by comprising :- 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 at least a lock position locking the door (5), and a release position releasing the door (5); and- actuating means (11) for selectively moving said latch means (8, 13) between said lock position and said release position;said actuating means (11) comprising :- a shape-memory thrust-bearing device (15) comprising 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 means (18) for powering said resistance wire (16) and producing a controlled Joule-effect variation in temperature. - An electric household appliance as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said locking device (6) comprises a safety switch (29), for opening/closing a power circuit powering electric/electronic means on the appliance (1), and which cooperates with said actuating means (11) and/or said latch means (8) so as to be switched to open or closed by predetermined movements of the latch means (8) and/or said actuating means (11) in said box body (7).
- An electric household appliance as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, and comprising an automatic switch (23) interposed electrically between said electric power means (18) and said resistance wire (16), and which switches between a closed position and an open position on the basis of current flow through said resistance wire (16); said automatic switch cooperating with said resistance wire (16) so as to be switched to the open position by a reduction in length of said resistance wire (16) over and above a minimum length threshold associated with a predetermined maximum current threshold.
- An electric household appliance as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein said latch means (8, 13) comprise :- a latch (8) hinged to the box body (7) to at least rotate, about a first axis (B), between said lock position locking said door (5), and in which the latch (8) engages a catch (5a) on said door (5) to hold the door (5) in the closed position; and said release position releasing said door (5), and in which the latch (8) is detached from the catch (5a) on the door (5) to allow the door to move into the open position; and- a traction pin (13), which is movable axially, along a second axis (C) perpendicular to said first axis (B), in a reverse direction (D) or a forward direction (E) opposite the reverse direction (D), and is connected to the latch (8) so that axial movement of the traction pin (13) in the reverse direction rotates the latch (8) into the release position; the traction pin (13) being connected to said resistance wire (16), so that a reduction in the length of the resistance wire moves the traction pin (13) axially in the reverse direction (D).
- An electric household appliance as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said actuating means (11) comprise :- a carriage (12) fitted inside the box body (7) to move axially along said second axis (C), and connected to the traction pin (13) and the shape-memory thrust-bearing device (15) so that a reduction in the length of the resistance wire (16) moves the traction pin (13) axially in the reverse direction (D); and- elastic thrust means (14) connected to the carriage (12) to move it in the forward direction (E) when the resistance wire (16) increases in length.
- An electric household appliance as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said elastic thrust means (14) comprise a U-shaped spring having two ends (14a) fixed rigidly to the box body (7), and a central segment (14b) fitted firmly to said carriage (12) so as to exert elastic thrust on the carriage in the forward direction (E).
- An electric household appliance as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said elastic thrust means (14) comprise two flexible wings (14c, 14d) designed to : remain substantially straight and parallel to the second axis (C) when the carriage (12) is in a first position associated with a rest position of the latch (8); flex gradually outwards, in opposite directions (F) perpendicular to the second axis (C) and parallel to the first axis (B), into a fully flexed position when the carriage (12) is reversed into a second position associated with said release position of the latch (8); and flex into a partly flexed position when the carriage (12) is moved from the second to a third position between the first and second position.
- An electric household appliance as claimed in Claim 7, wherein one (14d) of the wings, at least one resistance wire (16), and said automatic switch (23) are series-connected between a first (18a) and second (18b) electric connector of said electric power means (18).
- An electric household appliance as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said automatic switch (23) comprises a fixed electric contact (24); an arm (25) having a movable electric contact (26) and connected to the box body (7) to oscillate between a closed position connecting the movable contact (26) to the fixed contact (24), and an open position disconnecting the movable contact (26); a head (28) connecting one end of said at least one resistance wire (16) to the arm (25), and which is movable along the second axis (C); and elastic means (27), which cooperate with the arm (25) to allow the arm (25) to be moved, by the head (28) activated by the resistance wire (16), into the open position when current flow in the resistance wire (16) exceeds said predetermined maximum current threshold.
- An electric household appliance as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said safety switch (29) comprises a fixed electric contact (30); a movable electric contact (31) movable between a closed position connected to the fixed contact (30), and an open position disconnected from the fixed contact (30); a safety pin (34) connected mechanically to the latch (8) and movable axially along a third axis (H) parallel to the second axis (C); a lever mechanism (35) interposed between the safety pin (34) and the movable electric contact (31), and designed to move the movable electric contact (31) between the closed position connected to the fixed contact (30), and the open position disconnected from the fixed contact (30), as the safety pin (34) is moved axially by movement of the latch (8) into the rest position or release position.
- An electric household appliance as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the lever mechanism (35) comprises a first end (35a) resting on the movable electric contact (31); a second end fixed firmly to the safety pin (34); and a curved central portion resting slidably on a supporting portion (36), which is fixed firmly to the box body (7) and shaped to form a sloping surface with respect to the longitudinal axis (A), and on which the central portion of the lever mechanism (35) slides as the safety pin (34) moves axially.
- An electric household appliance as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said lever mechanism (35) slides on said supporting portion (36) between a minimum withdrawal position, in which said first end (35a) holds the movable electric contact (31) at a maximum distance from the fixed electric contact (30), and a maximum withdrawal position, in which the curved central portion of the lever mechanism (35) is positioned close to one wing (14d), and the first end (35a) of the lever mechanism (35) holds the movable electric contact (31) resting on the fixed electric contact (30).
- An electric household appliance as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said lever mechanism (35) is moved, by one wing (14d) flexing into the fully flexed position inside the box body (7), from the maximum withdrawal position associated with closing the automatic switch (23), to a safety position, in which the first end (35a) of the lever mechanism (35) detaches the movable electric contact (31) from the fixed electric contact (30) to open the automatic switch (23).
- An electric household appliance as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said safety pin (34) is connected at its rear end to the lever mechanism (35), and, at the opposite end, has a head (34a) which projects inside a lock groove (8a) formed in the latch (8) and designed to receive a projecting portion of the catch (5a) on the door (5); the safety pin (34) being pushed axially by the projecting portion of the catch (5a) on the door (5), as the projecting portion of the catch engages the lock groove (8a).
- An electric household appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 14, and comprising a mechanical manual release mechanism (40), in turn comprising a lever (41) connected firmly to the latch (8) and which is rotated about the first axis (B) to rotate the latch (8) between the lock position and the release position; and a user-operated manual release tool (43), by which to rotate the lever (41) to rotate the latch (8) from the lock position to the release position.
Priority Applications (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP11164054.6A EP2518243B1 (en) | 2011-04-28 | 2011-04-28 | Electric household appliance comprising a door locking device |
CN201280020814.0A CN103562478B (en) | 2011-04-28 | 2012-04-27 | The door lock assembly of electric household appliance |
PCT/EP2012/057724 WO2012146697A1 (en) | 2011-04-28 | 2012-04-27 | Electric household appliance door locking device |
AU2012247522A AU2012247522A1 (en) | 2011-04-28 | 2012-04-27 | Electric household appliance door locking device |
RU2013152773/12A RU2013152773A (en) | 2011-04-28 | 2012-04-27 | LOCKING DEVICE FOR ELECTRONIC HOUSE DOOR |
US14/294,607 US20150015001A1 (en) | 2011-04-28 | 2014-06-03 | Electric Household Appliance Door Locking Device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP11164054.6A EP2518243B1 (en) | 2011-04-28 | 2011-04-28 | Electric household appliance comprising a door locking device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2518243A1 true EP2518243A1 (en) | 2012-10-31 |
EP2518243B1 EP2518243B1 (en) | 2019-06-12 |
Family
ID=46017870
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP11164054.6A Active EP2518243B1 (en) | 2011-04-28 | 2011-04-28 | Electric household appliance comprising a door locking device |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2518243B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN103562478B (en) |
AU (1) | AU2012247522A1 (en) |
RU (1) | RU2013152773A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2012146697A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2015150051A1 (en) * | 2014-03-31 | 2015-10-08 | Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag | Locking device for a door of a domestic appliance |
CN110106668A (en) * | 2019-06-11 | 2019-08-09 | 温州天健电器有限公司 | Electric door lock control system of switching on or off electricity device, door lock, washing machine |
CN111576005A (en) * | 2019-02-15 | 2020-08-25 | 青岛海尔洗衣机有限公司 | Wall-mounted washing machine |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN103982090B (en) * | 2014-04-24 | 2016-03-02 | 宁波方太厨具有限公司 | A kind of door latch structure for household electrical appliance |
CN104033069B (en) * | 2014-05-29 | 2017-01-25 | 建盈(广州番禺)塑料五金实业有限公司 | Safety box with nitinol wire locking mechanism |
CN104110173B (en) * | 2014-06-23 | 2016-10-05 | 林杨 | A kind of high reliability passive electronic lockset of extendable functions |
CN107429466B (en) * | 2015-04-16 | 2019-07-26 | 松下知识产权经营株式会社 | Washing machine |
CN107386812A (en) * | 2017-07-06 | 2017-11-24 | 上海动联信息技术股份有限公司 | A kind of control method of controlled in wireless lockset |
WO2019102403A1 (en) * | 2017-11-23 | 2019-05-31 | Elettrotecnica Rold S.R.L. | Device for closing and opening panels, in particular panels of electrical household appliances such as washing machines and the like |
US10834789B2 (en) * | 2017-12-19 | 2020-11-10 | Whirlpool Corporation | Electronic door opening system |
DE102019128367B4 (en) | 2019-10-21 | 2021-06-10 | Marcel P. HOFSAESS | TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT SWITCH |
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EP1619287A1 (en) * | 2004-07-13 | 2006-01-25 | C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni | Household appliance, namely a machine for washing and/or drying laundry, with a door block/release device that can be actuated electrically |
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EP1340870B1 (en) * | 2002-02-27 | 2009-11-18 | emz-Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA | Unit with shape memory metal actuator for doorlocks of domestic appliances |
-
2011
- 2011-04-28 EP EP11164054.6A patent/EP2518243B1/en active Active
-
2012
- 2012-04-27 AU AU2012247522A patent/AU2012247522A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2012-04-27 CN CN201280020814.0A patent/CN103562478B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2012-04-27 RU RU2013152773/12A patent/RU2013152773A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2012-04-27 WO PCT/EP2012/057724 patent/WO2012146697A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (2)
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EP1619287A1 (en) * | 2004-07-13 | 2006-01-25 | C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni | Household appliance, namely a machine for washing and/or drying laundry, with a door block/release device that can be actuated electrically |
WO2006095241A1 (en) * | 2005-03-08 | 2006-09-14 | Itw Metalflex, Druzba Za Proizvodnjo Delov Za Gospodinjske Aparate, D.O.O. | Blocking device for the door of an electric household appliance, in particular the door of a washing machine |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2015150051A1 (en) * | 2014-03-31 | 2015-10-08 | Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag | Locking device for a door of a domestic appliance |
AU2015239925B2 (en) * | 2014-03-31 | 2020-03-05 | Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag | Locking device for a door of a domestic appliance |
CN111576005A (en) * | 2019-02-15 | 2020-08-25 | 青岛海尔洗衣机有限公司 | Wall-mounted washing machine |
CN111576005B (en) * | 2019-02-15 | 2022-07-19 | 青岛海尔洗衣机有限公司 | Wall-mounted washing machine |
CN110106668A (en) * | 2019-06-11 | 2019-08-09 | 温州天健电器有限公司 | Electric door lock control system of switching on or off electricity device, door lock, washing machine |
CN110106668B (en) * | 2019-06-11 | 2021-06-15 | 温州天健电器有限公司 | Electric door lock on-off control device, door lock and washing machine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
RU2013152773A (en) | 2015-06-10 |
WO2012146697A1 (en) | 2012-11-01 |
CN103562478A (en) | 2014-02-05 |
CN103562478B (en) | 2016-03-02 |
AU2012247522A1 (en) | 2013-05-02 |
EP2518243B1 (en) | 2019-06-12 |
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