Bolt Mechanism with Integrated Magnetic Door Position Sensor

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door position sensors require additional bores to be drilled in doors and doorframes for installation, making the process cumbersome and in need of improvement.

Innovation Solution

A bolt assembly with a magnetic sensor housed in a tubular sleeve, mounted in the standard latch bore, which includes wires to transmit information about the door's open/closed position without the need for additional drilling, using a magnetic sensor that aligns with a strike-mounted magnet to determine the door's position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional bores are drilled in the door and doorframe for door position sensor installation, then the sensor can be installed, but the installation process becomes cumbersome and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor position detectionVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bolt assembly housing is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides the structural housing for the bolt mechanism and simultaneously serves as the mounting structure for the door position sensor. The sensor is integrated into the existing bolt assembly rather than being a separate component requiring separate installation, allowing the same hardware to perform both latching and sensing functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The door position sensor is merged with the bolt assembly housing, combining two previously separate components (bolt mechanism and sensor) into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for separate sensor mounting hardware and additional drilling operations, as the sensor becomes part of the existing bolt assembly structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If additional bores are drilled in the door and doorframe for door position sensor installation, then the sensor can be installed, but the door and doorframe require modification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor position detectionVSAvoiddoor modification

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The bolt assembly housing is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides the structural housing for the bolt mechanism and simultaneously serves as the mounting structure for the door position sensor. The sensor is integrated into the existing bolt assembly rather than being a separate component requiring separate installation, allowing the same hardware to perform both latching and sensing functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The door position sensor is pre-integrated into the bolt assembly during manufacturing, so that when the bolt assembly is installed in the standard latch bore, the sensor is already positioned and configured. This preliminary integration eliminates the need for field modifications or additional drilling operations during installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If a magnetic sensor is used that aligns with a strike-mounted magnet, then accurate door position detection is achieved, but the sensor must be precisely positioned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor position detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The door position sensor is merged with the bolt assembly housing, combining two previously separate components (bolt mechanism and sensor) into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for separate sensor mounting hardware and additional drilling operations, as the sensor becomes part of the existing bolt assembly structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic sensor and strike-mounted magnet are positioned to work together in a standardized configuration where the relative positioning is maintained through the rigid structure of the bolt assembly and strike plate. The housing provides a stable reference frame that maintains consistent sensor-magnet alignment, reducing sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

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 easy installation by utilizing existing door preparation, providing accurate detection of the door's open/closed position without modifying the door or doorframe, reducing installation complexity and avoiding false positives through integrated mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

The magnetic sensor includes wires that extend through the tubular sleeve, and is operable to transmit information relating to an open/closed position of the door

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field sensing: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS11840866B2Bolt mechanism with door position sensor

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 SCHLAGE LOCK CO LLC

AI summary

An exemplary bolt assembly includes a housing, a bolt, and a magnetic sensor. The housing includes a tubular sleeve configured for mounting in a latch bore of a door. The bolt is movably mounted to the housing for movement between an extended position and a retracted position. The magnetic sensor includes wires that extend through the tubular sleeve, and is operable to transmit information relating to an open/closed position of the door.