Door Handle Linkage for Controlled Opening Under Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

In industrial applications, door handles in pressurized spaces can lead to explosive opening when unlocked, posing a risk to users, and existing solutions do not adequately control the opening of doors in a controlled manner.

Innovation Solution

A door handle arrangement featuring a handle that rotates between open and closed states, with an intermediate link transforming rotational movement into linear movement of a locking clamp, and a resilient mechanism to prevent uncontrollable opening, allowing multi-step door opening and pressure release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional door handle is used in pressurized spaces, then the door can be opened easily, but the door may explosively open and injure the user due to pressure difference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of door openingVSAvoidexplosive opening risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The door opening process is segmented into multiple steps: first rotating the handle to disengage the locking clamp from the locking element, then manually pushing the door open. This segmentation allows pressure to equalize during the first step before full opening occurs, eliminating the explosive opening risk while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The handle arrangement performs a preliminary action of disengaging the locking mechanism before the door is fully opened. The locking clamp is first released from the locking element, creating an intermediate state where the door can be safely pushed open without the risk of explosive opening, thus preventing harmful effects before they can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a locking mechanism is added to control door opening, then user safety is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor opening controlVSAvoidhandle arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking clamp, locking element, and handle are merged into a single integrated handle arrangement. The locking clamp is connected to the handle through an intermediate link, allowing the entire locking and control mechanism to be operated by a single handle rotation, thus providing safety control without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The handle serves multiple functions: it rotates to disengage the locking clamp from the locking element, it can be held in an intermediate position to maintain controlled opening, and it provides manual pushing assistance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, maintaining simplicity while achieving safety control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 flinging open due to pressure differences and ensuring safe operation, especially for doors located in ceilings or tilting walls.

Implementation Method 1

an intermediate link arranged between the handle and the locking means and arranged for transforming the rotational movement of the handle to substantially linear movement of the locking means, the intermediate link is arranged to perform a movement following an arcuate path

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical transformation: Lever

Implementation Method 2

a resilient means arranged to, by a resilient force, 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 the resilient force of the resilient means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResilient force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3578745B1Door handle arrangement with intermediate opening position
Publication Date: 2021.11.24 INDUSTRILAS AB
  • EP3578745B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3578745B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3578745B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

The present application relates to a handle arrangement (1) for a door (10), comprising a handle (2) arranged to move rotationally around a rotational axis (C) between an open state and a closed state, and a locking means for engaging with a locking element on a door frame (70), characterized in further comprising an intermediate link (6) arranged between the handle (2) and the locking means and arranged for transforming the rotational movement of the handle (2) to substantially linear movement of the locking means, a connection element (21), wherein the handle (2) is connected to the intermediate link (6) by the connection element (21), and the intermediate link (6) is arranged to perform a movement following an arcuate path when the handle (2) is moved between the open state and the closed state. 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.