Automatic Shootbolt Mechanism for Door Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shootbolts require manual manipulation to extend and secure doors, which can be cumbersome, especially with warped or misaligned doors, and lack automatic operation.
Innovation Solution
An automatic shootbolt system that extends shootbolts automatically upon closing the door, utilizing a biasing member and actuation lever mechanism to engage and disengage with a strike plate without manual intervention, allowing for seamless operation and alignment with the door frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual lever manipulation is used to extend shootbolts, then the shootbolt can be secured to the door frame, but the operation becomes cumbersome especially with warped or misaligned doors
Solution Approach 1:
The shootbolt system automatically extends and retracts without requiring manual lever manipulation. The door frame itself provides the actuation surface, and the shootbolt mechanism self-activates through contact with the frame during door closing/opening movements, eliminating the need for separate manual operation components
Solution Approach 2:
The manual lever component is completely removed from the system. The shootbolt is directly actuated by contact with the door frame structure, extracting the intermediate lever mechanism that caused operational complexity while maintaining the core locking function
2Productivity
If automatic shootbolt extension is implemented, then seamless operation is achieved, but the mechanism requires biasing members and actuation components
Solution Approach 1:
A biasing member (spring) provides continuous counteracting force to hold the shootbolt in the retracted position and enables automatic extension when actuated. This stored mechanical energy allows rapid deployment without complex active actuators, balancing automatic operation with mechanism simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The shootbolt system transitions from a static manual operation to a dynamic automatic response. The mechanism uses the door's natural movement dynamics to trigger shootbolt extension, with the biasing member providing the necessary force dynamics for rapid deployment and controlled retraction
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 secure and automatic door closure and opening without manual lever operation, effectively addressing issues with warped or misaligned doors by ensuring consistent engagement with the strike plate.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a biasing member and actuation lever mechanism to engage and disengage with a strike plate
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic shootbolt system or use with a door is provided. The automatic shootbolt system includes a strike and an automatic shootbolt assembly. The automatic shootbolt assembly includes a frame, a shootbolt slidably carried, an actuation lever slidably carried, and a shootbolt latch that acts between the shootbolt and the actuation lever. Actuation of the actuation lever from an extended state towards a retracted state transitions the shootbolt latch from an engaged position to a released position to release the shootbolt such that the shootbolt can transition from a retracted position to an extended position.