Differential Air Pressure Access Control for Emergency Door Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional emergency access control systems rely on mechanical locks, which may not be effective in situations requiring rapid or secure door control, such as 'missing patient' or 'active shooter' scenarios, and can be cumbersome in managing door states across a building.

Innovation Solution

The system employs differential air pressure controlled by a ventilation system to secure or open entrance doors by inducing a locking or opening force, using fans and dampers to create pressure differentials between zones, allowing for secure door control without traditional locks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If mechanical locks are used for emergency access control, then door security is maintained, but the system is cumbersome and not effective for rapid door control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor control speedVSAvoiddoor control ease

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical locks with a pneumatic system that uses differential air pressure to control door position. Fans and dampers create pressure differentials between zones, causing doors to open or close rapidly without mechanical locking mechanisms, thereby achieving both speed and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs pneumatic pressure differentials to actuate doors. By controlling air pressure on either side of the door through fans and dampers, the system achieves rapid door movement and positioning without mechanical actuators, solving the contradiction between speed and operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Adaptability or versatility

If mechanical locks are used for each door, then individual door control is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor state control flexibilityVSAvoidlock system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation system is given dual functionality: it performs both its primary HVAC function and serves as an access control system. By controlling dampers and fans, the same system can open, close, or hold doors in various positions, eliminating the need for separate mechanical locks and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the access control function with the existing ventilation system. Instead of installing independent lock mechanisms on each door, the system combines door control with air pressure management, allowing a single integrated system to perform multiple functions and reduce complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This method provides a rapid and secure means to control door states, ensuring doors remain closed or open as needed, enhancing emergency access control without the need for mechanical locks, and can be implemented in various building configurations.

Implementation Method 1

inducing a locking differential air pressure between opposite sides of the entrance door in response to the lock trigger, wherein the locking differential air pressure is sufficient to bias the entrance door to contact or to increase contact with a door frame in the closed position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDifferential air pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11435098B2System and method for access control using differential air pressure

Publication Date: 2022.09.06 TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH

AI summary

An access control system receives a trigger command for controlling a ventilation system; determines that the trigger command includes a lock trigger to hold an entrance door in a closed position; and induces a locking differential air pressure between opposite sides of the entrance door in response to the lock trigger, where the locking differential air pressure is sufficient to bias the entrance door to contact or to increase contact with a door frame in the closed position. The access control system may also determine that the trigger command includes an open assist trigger to ease an opening of the entrance door; and may induce an opening differential air pressure between the opposite sides of the entrance door in response to the open assist trigger, where the opening differential air pressure is sufficient to bias the entrance door to reduce contact with the door frame in the closed position.