Sliding Swing Door Lock Module That Blocks Emergency Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multifunctional modules for sliding swing doors in transport vehicles, such as those described in FR-3 061 227, do not maintain the mechanical integrity of the doors under all operational conditions, leading to potential deformations or breakages.

Innovation Solution

A multifunctional module with a casing fixed to a vehicle's frame, featuring a shaft with coaxial first and second shaft elements, and deactivation means that maintain emergency opening means in an inactive configuration when the locking means are active, ensuring the door's mechanical integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the emergency opening means are always accessible, then user safety is improved, but the door may be opened during active locking configurations causing mechanical damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor mechanical integrityVSAvoidemergency opening accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The deactivation means (locking lever and locking member) are designed to preemptively prevent harmful emergency opening actions when the door is in active locking configuration. The locking member automatically engages with the control pulley when the shaft is rotated into the locking position, blocking the emergency opening mechanism before any harmful door movement can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the accessibility of the emergency opening means based on the door's operational state. When the shaft is in the active locking configuration, the locking lever rotates to engage the locking member, disabling emergency opening. When the shaft is in other configurations, the emergency opening means remain accessible. This dynamic state-dependent control resolves the contradiction between safety and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If the locking means are made robust to prevent unauthorized opening, then door security is improved, but the emergency opening function may become inaccessible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking mechanism robustnessVSAvoidemergency opening accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking and emergency opening functions are segmented into distinct operational modes controlled by the shaft's rotational position. The locking means (shaft, locking lever, locking member) operate independently in the active locking configuration, while the emergency opening means (control pulley, cable) operate independently in other configurations. This functional segmentation allows both robust locking and accessible emergency opening without conflict.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The deactivation means act as an intermediary mechanism between the locking means and emergency opening means. The locking lever, driven by the shaft's rotation, mediates the interaction between these two systems by engaging the locking member to block the control pulley. This intermediary mechanism ensures that the robust locking function does not permanently disable emergency opening capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a multifunctional module combining locking and emergency opening is used, then device compactness is improved, but mechanical integrity under all operational conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodule compactnessVSAvoiddoor mechanical integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft serves as a universal control element for both locking and emergency opening functions. By rotating the shaft to different angular positions, the system can activate either the locking function (via the locking lever) or the emergency opening function (via the control pulley). This multi-functionality is achieved within a single compact module, resolving the contradiction between compactness and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4559775A1Multifunctional module with improved robustness for a sliding swinging door, and vehicle equipped with same

Publication Date: 2025.05.28 FAIVELEY TRANSPORT TOURS

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AI summary

This module comprises a casing (1) fixed on a fixed beam (300) of the drive mechanism of said door, a shaft (2, 3) mounted on this casing, comprising a first (2) and a second (3) coaxial shaft elements, having a single degree of freedom in rotation around their common axis, locking means (9, 90), having an active configuration in which they prevent the door from moving from its closed position to its open position, as well as an inactive configuration, as well as emergency opening means (50, 51, 60), having an active configuration in which they allow the door locking mechanism to be unlocked, as well as an inactive configuration. According to the invention, the module comprises deactivation means (4, 22, 55), capable of keeping the emergency opening means inactive when the locking means are active.The invention therefore makes it possible to avoid a situation in which, for a locked door, a user remains able to activate the emergency release. Consequently, any untimely emergency opening is avoided, which makes it possible to maintain the mechanical integrity of the door for the duration of the locked state.