Door Handle Clamp With Intermediate Opening for Pressure Release

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In industrial applications, door handles in pressurized spaces can lead to explosive opening when unlocked, posing a risk to users due to pressure differences, and there is a need for a controlled opening mechanism that prevents uncontrollable door flinging open.

Innovation Solution

A door handle arrangement featuring a locking clamp that rotates around a first axis to an intermediate position and then moves linearly along a second axis, utilizing a resilient means to prevent sudden opening until sufficient force is applied, allowing for a multistep controlled opening process without additional parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a conventional door handle is used in pressurized spaces, then the door can be opened quickly, but the door may explosively open due to pressure differences, causing injury to users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor opening speedVSAvoidpressure difference injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The door opening process is segmented into three distinct phases: locked position, intermediate position, and fully open position. The locking clamp engages with the locking element at the locked position, can be partially disengaged at the intermediate position to release pressure, and fully disengaged at the fully open position. This segmentation allows controlled pressure release before complete door opening, preventing explosive opening while maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient means (spring) is pre-loaded to automatically push the locking clamp into the locked position engaging with the locking element before the door is fully closed. This preliminary action ensures the door is secured before pressure builds up, and during opening, the resilient means maintains engagement until sufficient force is applied to overcome it, allowing controlled transition through the intermediate position for pressure release.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a multistep opening mechanism is implemented to control door opening, then safety is improved by preventing explosive opening, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrolled opening safetyVSAvoidhandle mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking clamp integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides locking engagement with the locking element, enables intermediate positioning for pressure release, and allows full opening. The resilient means (spring) combines locking force application and intermediate position maintenance. The handle connects to the locking clamp to transmit user force. This merging of functions into integrated components achieves multistep controlled opening without requiring multiple separate mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while ensuring safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the locking clamp is designed to rotate and move linearly to achieve intermediate position, then controlled opening is enabled, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultistep opening controlVSAvoidlocking clamp manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The locking clamp is designed with dynamic movement capabilities: it can rotate around a first axis to transition between locked and intermediate positions, and move linearly along a second axis to transition between intermediate and fully open positions. This dynamic design allows the single locking clamp component to achieve multiple positioning states (locked, intermediate, fully open) through simple rotational and linear movements, enabling controlled opening sequences without complex manufacturing requirements.

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

Enables controlled opening of doors in industrial settings, preventing accidental opening due to pressure differences and ensuring safety by allowing pressure release before full opening, thus protecting users and preventing door fall or sudden movement.

Implementation Method 1

The handle arrangement comprises a resilient means arranged to, by a resilient force, keep the locking clamp from moving from the intermediate position towards the open position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResilient force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11286688B2Door handle arrangement with intermediate opening position

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 INDUSTRILAS AB

AI summary

The present application relates to a handle arrangement (1) for a door (10), comprising a handle (2) and a locking clamp (3) for engaging a locking element on a door frame (70). The locking clamp is arranged to rotate around a first axis (A) from a locking to an intermediate position and to move linearly along a second axis (B) from the intermediate to an open position, when the handle is moved between a closed, intermediate, and open state. The arrangement comprises a resilient means (8) arranged to keep the locking clamp from moving from the intermediate position towards the open position until a force applied in the direction of the linear movement of the locking clamp towards the open position exceeds a resilient force of the resilient means. With this arrangement, a handle arrangement which may be opened in several steps is provided such that the opening of a door may be performed in a controlled manner.