Pneumatic Door Closer with Push Button Hold Open Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic door closers require two hands to hold a door open and close, making it inconvenient, especially when carrying items, and have high manufacturing costs due to complex arming or latching mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A door closer with a lever and flat-profile spring that contacts a latching washer to hold the door open, allowing easy release and closure with a single hand, featuring a simple push-button operation and reduced parts for cost-efficient manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual washer sliding mechanism is used to hold the door open, then the door can be held open, but two hands are required for operation making it inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The door closer mechanism automatically holds the door open using a spring-loaded lever and latching washer that engage without manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the door's weight and the spring force to maintain the open position, eliminating the need for continuous manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual sliding washer mechanism is replaced with an automated spring-loaded lever system. The mechanical action of manually sliding the washer is substituted by the automatic engagement of the spring-loaded lever with the latching washer, reducing the operational complexity.
2Reliability
If a complex arming or latching mechanism with multiple parts is used, then the door can be held open automatically, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components are merged into a single integrated lever assembly. The lever combines the arming mechanism, latching mechanism, and spring loading into one unit, reducing the total number of parts while maintaining reliable hold-open functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever component performs multiple functions: it acts as the arming mechanism, the latching mechanism, and the spring-loaded actuator. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying manufacturing while ensuring reliable operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple lever and spring mechanism is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the mechanism must be simpler to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is pre-loaded during assembly to automatically engage the lever with the latching washer when the door is pulled open. This preliminary action ensures that the mechanism is already in the correct state to hold the door open without requiring additional operational steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism automatically engages and disengages the latching washer through the lever's movement, requiring no manual manipulation. The spring-loaded system serves itself by using the door's motion to trigger the latching and unlatching actions.
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 convenient one-handed operation of holding and closing doors while reducing manufacturing complexity and costs by using a single-piece lever and flat-profile spring, facilitating easy assembly and reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a friction portion end holding the lever in an armed or a set position
Implementation Method 2
a flat-profile spring circumscribing a substantial portion of its perimeter is used to contact a latching washer
Implementation Method 3
a recoil spring placed around the piston rod pushes the latching washer flat or uncanted
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic door closer having an arming and latching mechanism that once armed permits a door to be held open by placing it in the desired open position and easily released by opening the door slightly, resetting the arming and latching mechanism permitting the door to be closed. A lever having a flat-profile spring over a substantial portion of its exterior surface is rotated into a position adjacent a latching washer causing the latching washer to canter upon a slight closure of the door, locking the door in an open position. Upon release of the door by further opening the door slightly, the cantered latching washer is released and a recoil spring causes the released latching washer to straighten or become uncantered, permitting a piston rod to move freely relative to the latching mechanism causing the door to close. The single piece lever and external flat-profile spring are easily manufactured and assembled and provides a reliable latching mechanism that can be conveniently operated with one hand.