Anti-panic Push Bar with Motorized Slide Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing anti-panic push bars for emergency exit doors lack universal applicability, ease of use, and high functional reliability, often requiring direct force application and lacking integration of both mechanical and motorized unlocking mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

An anti-panic push bar design that incorporates a transmission device to move the actuating handle's motion to a slide device, allowing for both manual and motor-driven unlocking, utilizing an electric drive motor and a spring accumulator, with a switchable coupling coil to facilitate automatic unlocking and reduce installation complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a direct mechanical connection between handle and door lock is used, then the structure is simple, but high force is required and reliability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a transmission device with two slides as an intermediary between the actuating handle and the door lock. The first slide connects to the door lock while the second slide connects to the handle via the transmission device, providing mechanical advantage and force multiplication without requiring a complex direct connection mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If manual actuation directly unlocks the door lock, then the mechanism is simple, but ease of use is reduced due to high force requirement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoidforce requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission device acts as a mechanical intermediary that reduces the force needed at the handle by distributing and amplifying the applied force through the two-slide mechanism, making the door easier to open without requiring excessive manual strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The unlocking mechanism is segmented into two independent slides that can be actuated separately - one for manual operation and one for motorized operation - allowing each to be optimized for its specific function while working together through the transmission device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If both manual and motorized unlocking are integrated, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunlocking mode versatilityVSAvoiddrive mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dual unlocking system is segmented into independent manual and motorized pathways, each controlling a separate slide, allowing both functions to coexist without requiring a single complex integrated mechanism. This modular approach provides versatility while managing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission device with two slides serves multiple functions: it can transmit force from manual handle actuation, receive force from motorized actuation, and provide mechanical advantage in both cases, making it a universal component that handles both unlocking modes through the same mechanical structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If a spring accumulator is added to assist unlocking, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunlocking effortVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The spring accumulator is merged with the existing transmission device structure, sharing space with the two-slide mechanism and drive motor. This integration allows the energy-storing spring mechanism to provide unlocking assistance without requiring separate dedicated space, reducing overall installation footprint

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

Enables reliable and comfortable unlocking of door locks with reduced force requirement, combining mechanical and motorized functions in a compact design, enhancing ease of use and reducing costs and installation space, while ensuring high functional reliability and adaptability.

Implementation Method 1

an electric drive motor (51) connected to the slide device (3) or couplable to the slide device (3) in order to unlock the door lock (16) in an electrically driven manner by motor-driven actuation of the first slide (31) of the slide device (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric motor: Linear Motor

Implementation Method 2

a spring accumulator (52) connected to the slide device (3) or couplable to the slide device (3), wherein the spring accumulator (52) can be charged via the drive motor (51) and/or via the actuating handle (21)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring accumulator: Mechanical Accumulator

Implementation Method 3

a switchable coupling coil (6) to couple the two slides (31, 32) of the slide device (3) to one another in an electrically switchable manner via a rotatable coupling rocker (62)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic coupling: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentEP3219886B1Anti-panic push bar with drive device
Publication Date: 2019.10.16 ASSA ABLOY SICHERHEITSTECHNIK GMBH
  • EP3219886B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3219886B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3219886B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an anti-panic push bar (2) for unlocking a door lock (16) in an escape door or emergency exit door. The anti-panic push bar (2) has an operating handle (21) for manually unlocking the door lock (16), which, when manually actuated via a sliding device (3), unlocks the door lock (16). To enable universal application of the anti-panic push bar and to increase operational safety, it is proposed that an electric drive motor (51) be connected to or connectable with the sliding device in order to electrically unlock and/or lock the door lock (16) by motorized actuation of a slide (31, 32) of the sliding device (3).