Door Leaf Locking Mechanism With Reversing Elements for Manual Override

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door locking systems are either manually operated, lacking integration into automated systems, or automatically lockable but prone to malfunction during power outages or drive failures, necessitating costly manual intervention.

Innovation Solution

A door locking device with a coupling unit and reversing elements that allow synchronized movement of two locking units, enabling manual operation with automated integration and ensuring both manual and automated unlocking, even in the event of electrical failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If an automatic locking system is used, then the door can be automatically locked and unlocked, but the system becomes vulnerable to malfunction during power outages or drive failures requiring costly manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic lockingVSAvoidsystem reliability during power failure
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device implements different operational modes for different locking units: the first locking unit can be automatically actuated while the second locking unit remains manually actuable. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain automatic locking functionality where possible while preserving manual intervention capability specifically at the second locking unit, ensuring system reliability during power failures without requiring complete system redesign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The locking device is divided into two independent locking units (first and second locking units) with separate actuation mechanisms. The first locking unit is integrated with the automatic drive mechanism, while the second locking unit maintains a separate manual actuation path through the coupling unit. This segmentation allows independent operation of each locking unit, enabling manual unlocking of the second unit even when the automatic drive fails

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If two locking units are synchronized using a coupling unit with reversing elements, then both locking units can be actuated simultaneously, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronized locking speedVSAvoidcoupling unit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling unit merges the actuation mechanisms of the first and second locking units into a single integrated system. The reversing elements and coupling element work together as a unified mechanism that translates the actuation of one locking unit into synchronized actuation of the other. This merging approach achieves simultaneous locking of both units while using a compact mechanical design that avoids the need for separate control systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling unit employs reversing elements that invert the direction of motion between the two locking units. When the first locking unit moves in one direction, the reversing elements cause the second locking unit to move in the opposite direction, achieving synchronized locking through this inversion mechanism. This approach simplifies the coupling design by using mechanical inversion rather than complex coordination control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4249715B1Device for locking a door leaf
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 GU AUTOMATIC
  • EP4249715B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4249715B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4249715B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application relates to a device (1) for locking a door leaf (2) relative to a door frame, comprising a housing (3), an upper locking unit (4) for locking the door leaf (2) at its upper end, a lower locking unit (5) for locking the door leaf (2) at its lower end, a coupling unit (6) for kinematically coupling the two locking units (4, 5), a locking cylinder (7), and a transmission unit (8), wherein the locking units (4, 5) each comprise a locking element (9, 10), wherein the locking units (4, 5) are coupled to each other by means of the coupling unit (6), wherein the locking cylinder (7) is manually operable, wherein the movement of the functional element (11) can be transmitted to one of the locking units (4, 5) by means of the transmission unit (8), such that by actuating the locking cylinder (7) at least one of the locking units (4, 5) is5) can be transferred from their respective locked positions to their respective unlocked positions. According to the invention, the coupling unit (6) comprises a coupling element (12) and two reversing elements (13, 14) cooperating with the coupling element (12), wherein the movement of the functional element (11) can be transmitted to at least one of the reversing elements (13) by means of the transmission unit (8) such that the reversing element (13) is movable translationally relative to the housing (3) as a result of actuation of the locking cylinder (7).