Door Securing Device Decouples Tensile Force Direction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door safety devices often malfunction and block unwanted movements even when there is no damage to the weight compensation device or attempt to pry open the door, due to the pivoting position of the securing element being influenced by the direction and amount of tensile force from the traction mechanism, leading to undesired displacement and blocking of the door leaf movement.

Innovation Solution

The safety device decouples the effect of the tensile force direction by using an actuating element indirectly coupled to the securing element, with a guide device ensuring the actuating element's movement is predetermined and not influenced by the traction mechanism's force direction, and employs prestressing devices to reliably trigger the securing effect only when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the locking element is directly coupled to the pulling element, then the safety device can be activated by the tensile force from the counterweight device, but the locking element may be unintentionally activated due to force direction changes during door movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety device activation reliabilityVSAvoiddoor movement smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an actuating element as an intermediary between the pulling element and the locking element. The actuating element is guided by a guide device that ensures it only moves in a predetermined direction, decoupling the locking element's displacement from the force direction of the pulling element. This prevents unintended activation while maintaining reliable safety device function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the locking element responds to tensile force magnitude and direction, then it can detect damage conditions, but it cannot distinguish between desired activation conditions and normal operational variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage detection accuracyVSAvoidfalse activation events
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the detection function from the activation function. The guide device segments the actuating element's movement into a predetermined safe direction, while the locking element only responds to displacement along this specific path. This segmentation ensures that only genuine damage conditions (which cause sufficient displacement in the guided direction) trigger activation, filtering out false positives from normal operational variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the pulling element holds the locking element in the release position, then the door can move freely during normal operation, but the locking element may pivot into the locking position when pulling force decreases due to non-damage reasons

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor operation freedomVSAvoidunintended locking prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a dynamic system where the actuating element's movement is constrained by the guide device to follow a predetermined path. The locking element remains in the release position during normal operation because the actuating element cannot displace it in the required direction. Only when sufficient force causes the actuating element to overcome the guide constraints and move along the predetermined path does the locking element pivot into the locking position, ensuring dynamic reliability.

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

This solution ensures the safety device is reliably activated only in desired situations, preventing unintended blocking of door movements and maintaining operational reliability by decoupling the displacement of the securing element from the traction mechanism's force direction and using prestressing devices to control the actuating element's movement.

Implementation Method 1

The actuating element is forced into the housing by means of a compression spring arranged in the housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A traction element in the form of a chain and/or a pull rope can be used to transfer the force from the weight compensation device to the gate leaf and vice versa

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTension: Tension

Implementation Method 3

a counterweight is usually attached to the door leaf, exerting a force that pushes the door leaf into the open position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3608493B1Door comprising a securing device
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 HORMANN BROCKHAGEN
  • EP3608493B1 patent drawingFigure 1a)~1c)
  • EP3608493B1 patent drawingFigure 2a)~2b)

AI summary

Gate with a gate leaf movable between a closed position and an open position and comprising a plurality of gate leaf elements arranged one behind the other in the direction of gate leaf movement, and a locking device adjustable between a release position and a locking position, comprising a locking element movably mounted relative to the gate leaf element advancing during a closing movement and movable between a release position and a locking position, wherein the locking element moved into the locking position opposes the closing movement in the first section of the movement path and opposes the opening movement in the second section of the movement path, and wherein the locking device comprises an actuating element coupled to a traction element for moving the locking element from the release position to the locking position.where, on the other hand, the traction element is coupled to a weight compensation device that supports the opening movement.