Center Slide Assembly for Lightweight Multi-Point Latch Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-point exit devices require complex linkages and large springs to operate, increasing weight and complexity, which can weaken doors and require additional metal supports, affecting aesthetics and cost.
Innovation Solution
A center slide assembly with spool assemblies and a tilting link that controls latch mechanism displacement, minimizing space and weight, using cables with adjustable tension to simplify operation and reduce door weakening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional hold-open mechanisms with direct connection between top and bottom latches are used, then the latches can be retained in retracted position, but the device complexity and weight increase due to complex linkages, rods, and large springs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex rod linkages and hold-open mechanisms from the traditional multi-point exit device. Instead of using direct mechanical connections between latches, the invention allows each latch to operate independently with its own spring, eliminating unnecessary components while maintaining reliable latch retention through simplified means
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the unified latch system into independent segments. Each latch (top and bottom) is equipped with its own spring and operates independently rather than being mechanically coupled through complex linkages. This segmentation reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the reliability of each individual latch mechanism
2Force
If traditional hold-open mechanisms with large springs are used, then sufficient force is provided to displace heavy rods, but the spring size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for large, heavy springs by removing the rod linkages that required substantial force to move. Each latch uses a smaller, lighter spring that only needs to move the latch itself rather than拖着 heavy six-foot rods, significantly reducing the weight of moving components while maintaining sufficient displacement force
Solution Approach 2:
The patent reduces the counterbalancing force requirement by eliminating the heavy rod linkages. The springs only need to counterbalance the weight of the latches themselves, not the entire linkage system, allowing for much lighter spring components that still provide adequate force for latch operation
3Adaptability or versatility
If concealed exit device components are installed in doors, then the exit function is provided, but the door strength is weakened due to removal of interior core material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for extensive door core material removal by eliminating complex concealed mechanisms. The simplified latch design requires minimal interior space, allowing doors to maintain their structural integrity and strength while still accommodating the necessary exit device components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the exit device into compact, modular latch units that require minimal space within the door structure. This segmented approach allows the door to retain most of its core material for strength while providing just enough space for the simplified latch mechanisms, unlike traditional designs that require large concealed cavities
4Ease of operation
If traditional linkages and rods are used, then latch control is achieved, but the operational difficulty increases due to increased weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the heavy rod linkages and complex hold-open mechanisms that made operation difficult. The simplified design with independent latches and smaller springs significantly reduces the weight of moving parts, making the exit device easier to operate while maintaining effective latch control through simpler means
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the latch system into independent, lightweight units that operate separately rather than as a unified heavy mechanism. This segmentation reduces the overall weight that must be moved during operation, improving ease of use while maintaining effective control over each individual latch point
Data Source
AI summary
A center slide assembly for a multi-point exit device. Upper and lower spool assemblies may be displaced from first positions to second positions along an inner region of a center slide. The displacement of the spool assemblies may displace upper and lower pull cables so as to retract latch mechanisms from extended positions to retracted positions. A first latching pin may be displaced, along with the displacement of the upper spool assembly, along an abutment surface of a tilting link so as to pivotally displace the tilting link from an unlocked position to a locked position. Displacement of the lower spool assembly may displace a second latching pin to a position wherein the second latching pin may be received and retained within a jog of the tilting link when the tilting link is in the locked position, which may thereby retain the associated latch mechanism in the retracted position.