Door Closer Sealing Plug Radial Rotation Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door closer end cap designs are costly to manufacture, require complex coordination, and are vulnerable to vandalism due to ease of removal.

Innovation Solution

A sealing plug with a radial rotation mechanism and spring arms is integrated into the door closer housing, providing a secure and cost-effective solution that blends seamlessly with the housing design, making it difficult for unauthorized individuals to remove.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the end cap is attached using grooves and fastening contours, then the end cap can be secured to the housing, but the manufacturing costs increase and coordination complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidcoordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is segmented into a receptacle fixed in the housing and a separate link on the end cap. The receptacle contains a receiving contour that interacts with a protruding contour on the link, allowing the end cap to be attached through simple insertion without complex coordination between multiple features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The complex groove and fastening contour system is extracted and replaced with a simpler receptacle-link mechanism. The receptacle serves as a standalone attachment feature that simplifies the overall coordination requirements while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the end cap is attached using grooves and fastening contours, then the end cap can be secured to the housing, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is divided into a simple receptacle in the housing and a corresponding link on the end cap. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simpler processes, reducing overall manufacturing costs while maintaining secure attachment through the interacting contours.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the end cap is made removable for maintenance, then accessibility is improved, but vulnerability to vandalism increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessibilityVSAvoidvandalism risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The end cap is designed with a specific local feature - a protruding contour on the link that must align with and engage the receiving contour in the receptacle. This local geometric constraint allows authorized maintenance personnel to remove the end cap while preventing unauthorized removal by vandals who lack the proper tooling or knowledge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If there is a gap between the end cap and cover, then manufacturing tolerances are easier to accommodate, but the appearance becomes unacceptable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetolerance accommodationVSAvoidappearance uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The end cap attachment system incorporates a slight rotational movement during insertion, where the link rotates radially as it engages with the receptacle. This dynamic insertion process allows the end cap to self-align and eliminate gaps, achieving a uniform appearance while accommodating manufacturing tolerances through the rotational adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution enhances security by concealing the removable nature of the plug, reduces manufacturing costs, and ensures a uniform appearance, while maintaining structural integrity against dynamic effects.

Implementation Method 1

the sealing plug being fixed radially by at least one spring arm which is arranged on the sealing plug

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2588695B1Door closer with closing plug
Publication Date: 2017.09.20 DORMAKABA DEUT GMBH
  • EP2588695B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2588695B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2588695B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a sealing plug (10) for sealing an opening (80) of a door closer housing (20) at an end face. According to the invention, a receiving portion (30) is arranged in the opening (80) of the door closer housing (20), and the sealing plug (10) has a web (45) having a gate (35), wherein when the sealing plug (10) is inserted into the opening (80), the receiving portion (30) interacts with the gate (35) in such a way that the sealing plug (10) rotates radially and the gate (35) guides the sealing plug (10), wherein the sealing plug (10) is axially fixed in a longitudinal axis (85) and the sealing plug (10) is radially fixed by at least one spring arm (50, 55), which is arranged on the sealing plug (10).