Door Lever Mechanism Prevents Jamming in Double-Leaf Swing Doors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Double-leaf swing doors with thick and narrow leaves often jam when both are attempted to open simultaneously due to the narrow gap between their front surfaces, especially when the hinge axes are positioned in front of the door leaf's opening direction, leading to blockage and difficulty in opening.

Innovation Solution

A device is integrated into the fixed leaf of the door, featuring a lever that pivots about a vertical axis offset from the espagnolette, allowing it to push the active leaf into an opening movement when the fixed leaf is unlocked, preventing jamming by creating space for both leaves to open independently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If door leaves with large thickness are used to ensure fire protection and structural integrity, then the door leaves can be made tightly closed, but the narrow gap between front surfaces causes the door leaves to jam together when both are opened simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire protectionVSAvoidopening movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lever is designed to preliminarily move the active leaf away from the fixed leaf before the fixed leaf begins its opening movement. When the fixed leaf is unlocked, the lever pivots and pushes the active leaf into a slightly open position, creating clearance space that prevents jamming during subsequent simultaneous opening operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Volume of moving object

If the hinge axes are positioned in front of the door leaf in the opening direction to achieve compact design, then the door structure is more space-efficient, but the door leaves are more prone to jamming when both leaves are opened at the same time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor structureVSAvoidopening movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lever acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fixed leaf and the active leaf. It translates the unlocking action of the fixed leaf into a preliminary opening movement of the active leaf, mediating the interaction between the two leaves to prevent direct contact and jamming during opening operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the gap between front surfaces of door leaves is dimensioned narrowly to achieve tight closure, then the door leaves can be closed tightly for security, but the door leaves can barely be opened or closed individually and may jam when both are opened simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure tightnessVSAvoidopening movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lever performs a preliminary action by moving the active leaf away from the fixed leaf before the fixed leaf begins its opening movement. This preliminary separation creates sufficient clearance to allow both leaves to open smoothly without jamming, while maintaining the narrow gap for tight closure when the door is closed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution ensures that the active leaf is pivoted into a slightly open position as the fixed leaf is unlocked, preventing jamming and allowing for smooth opening and closing sequences without the need for additional space, enhancing the functionality of the door's opening sequence control.

Implementation Method 1

a lever (8) which is held pivotable on the fixed leaf (1) about a pivot axis (9) offset from the espagnolette (6) in the direction towards the active leaf (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever mechanism: Lever

Data Source

PatentEP2960418B1Device for preventing the leaves of a double-leafed swing door from getting stuck against each other
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 DEGELSEGGER WALTER
  • EP2960418B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2960418B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2960418B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for preventing the jamming of the fixed leaf (1) and active leaf (3) of a double-leaf swing door when they are opened simultaneously. This is achieved by pivoting the active leaf (3) into a slightly open position as soon as the fixed leaf (1) is unlocked. The fixed leaf (1) is equipped with a vertically displaceable locking bolt (6) that allows the fixed leaf (1) to be anchored to the door frame in the closed position. A mechanical linkage translates the unlocking movement of the locking bolt (6) into a pivoting movement of a lever (8) rotatably mounted on the fixed leaf (1). The pivot axis of the lever (8) is offset relative to the locking bolt (6) towards the vertical end face of the fixed leaf (1) on the active leaf side.