Dead Bolt Locking Mechanism Prevents Follower Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dead bolt locking systems face interference issues between thumb turn and key cylinder followers, leading to blocking and preventing secure operation, as the thumb turn follower lacks a defined position, potentially blocking the key cylinder follower and hindering dead bolt unlocking.

Innovation Solution

A dead bolt locking mechanism featuring an operation rack, first and second followers, and an engaging element, where the followers are rotatable and connected to user interfaces, with counterelements and engaging elements that maintain non-blocking positions to prevent interference, allowing independent movement of the dead bolt via either interface without blocking the other.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a thumb turn is coupled to one of the followers, then the dead bolt can be actuated without a key from the interior side, but the follower has no defined position and may interfere with the key cylinder follower, causing blocking of the whole system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedead bolt actuationVSAvoidsystem blocking
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The engaging element is positioned in advance to engage with the counterelement on the follower disc, pre-establishing a non-blocking position before the thumb turn follower is rotated. This preliminary engagement ensures that the follower is held in a safe position that prevents interference with the key cylinder follower, thereby maintaining system reliability while enabling ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The engaging element acts as an intermediary between the follower disc and the housing, mediating the position of the follower disc through engagement with the counterelement. This intermediary mechanism ensures that the follower disc is held in a predetermined non-blocking position, preventing direct interference between the thumb turn follower and key cylinder follower, thus resolving the blocking issue while maintaining operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the follower can be at any position after using the thumb turn, then operation flexibility is improved, but the risk of follower interference and blocking of key cylinder unlocking increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefollower positionVSAvoidunlocking blocking
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The engaging element is pre-positioned in the housing to engage with the counterelement on the follower disc, establishing a predetermined non-blocking position before the follower is used. This preliminary action constrains the follower to specific safe positions that prevent interference with the key cylinder, thereby maintaining adaptability while eliminating unlocking blocking risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement between the engaging element and the counterelement provides mechanical feedback that indicates when the follower disc is in a non-blocking position. This feedback mechanism ensures that the follower disc is held in predetermined positions that prevent interference, allowing operational versatility while guaranteeing reliable key cylinder unlocking by preventing blocking positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3323965B1Dead bolt locking mechanism
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 DORMAKABA DEUT GMBH
  • EP3323965B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3323965B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3323965B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention regards a dad bolt locking mechanism (1) comprising: an operation rack (5) being movable along a predefined displacement direction (100) and being connectable to a dead bolt (6), a first follower (3) and a second follower (4) which are rotatable about a rotation axis (200), an engaging element (11), wherein the first follower (3) and the second follower (4) are adapted to be able to rotate independently and each of the first follower (3) and the second follower (4) can move the operation rack (5) along the displacement direction (100), and wherein the first follower (3) and/or the second follower (4), especially a circumferential surface (7) of the follower (3, 4) comprises at least one counterelement with which the engaging element (11) is engageable to situate the respective first follower (3) and/or second follower (4) in a non-blocking position.