Deadbolt Rollers for Misalignment and Friction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deadbolt locking systems face issues with misalignment and friction, which hinder the extension of the bolt into a locking position, especially in electronic systems where battery life is compromised, and remote locking becomes impractical due to the need for manual alignment.
Innovation Solution
The deadbolt locking system incorporates a pair of rollers positioned on opposing sides of its axial centerline, with chamfers or tapered surfaces that engage the strike plate edge to align the bolt and reduce friction, allowing the bolt to extend and retract smoothly even when misaligned.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a close fit between the bolt and strike plate is desired, then security and precision are improved, but misalignment sensitivity increases and friction problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Rollers are introduced as intermediary elements between the bolt and strike plate. These rollers can rotate and adapt to misalignment, mediating the interaction between the bolt and strike plate to prevent direct frictional contact while maintaining a close fit for security.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller elements are made movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position and orientation in response to misalignment. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to maintain reliable operation across varying alignment conditions while preserving the close fit configuration.
2Ease of operation
If manual alignment is required to overcome friction, then the bolt can extend and retract, but ease of operation deteriorates and user convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The roller mechanism is designed to self-align and self-adjust during bolt operation. As the bolt moves, the rollers automatically rotate and position themselves to accommodate misalignment, eliminating the need for user intervention or manual alignment actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The rollers are pre-positioned and pre-configured to engage with the strike plate before the bolt begins its extension or retraction movement. This preliminary positioning ensures that alignment adjustments are already in place, preventing friction issues before they arise during operation.
3Force
If the throwing mechanism produces sufficient force to overcome friction, then the bolt can be thrown through the passage, but battery consumption increases and battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Rollers serve as intermediary elements that convert sliding friction into rolling friction, dramatically reducing the force required for bolt movement. This reduction in required force directly decreases the energy consumption of the throwing mechanism, extending battery life in electronic deadbolt systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction parameter is fundamentally changed by introducing rollers, transitioning from high-friction sliding contact to low-friction rolling contact. This parameter change reduces the force requirement by a significant factor, thereby reducing power consumption and extending operational duration of the battery-powered system.
4Reliability
If the bolt face contacts the flat surface of the strike plate due to severe misalignment, then the system becomes locked, but the risk of damage increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Rollers act as intermediary elements that prevent direct contact between the bolt face and the flat strike plate surface. By maintaining separation through the roller mechanism, the system eliminates the harmful face-to-surface contact that causes damage during severe misalignment events.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller mechanism provides a cushioning effect by absorbing and distributing misalignment forces before they can transmit damaging loads to the bolt face or strike plate. This protective action occurs automatically during misalignment, preventing damage before it happens.
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
The rollers facilitate automatic alignment and reduce friction, enabling the bolt to extend and retract efficiently, maintaining battery life and allowing for remote locking without manual intervention, even in close-fit scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
An exemplary deadbolt includes a pair of rollers positioned on opposing sides of an axial centerline of the deadbolt
Implementation Method 2
The deadbolt may include chamfers or tapered surfaces extending from side surfaces of the deadbolt toward a face of the deadbolt
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary deadbolt includes a pair of rollers positioned on opposing sides of an axial centerline of the deadbolt. The deadbolt may include chamfers or tapered surfaces extending from side surfaces of the deadbolt toward a face of the deadbolt. The rollers may extend beyond the face, one of the side surfaces, and/or one of the tapered surfaces. As the bolt moves from a retracted position to an extended position, one of the rollers may engage an edge of an opening in a strike plate, for example when the deadbolt is misaligned with the strike plate opening. As the rollers engage the edge, the deadbolt may be urged to a more aligned position.