Pedestrian Gate with Eccentric Locking Element for Wider Passage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing access control devices, particularly in airports, face issues with reduced passage width due to the collision of locking elements with functional components or handrails during pivoting, leading to space inefficiency and potential entrapment of individuals with luggage or wheelchairs.

Innovation Solution

A pedestrian barrier design with a locking element attached to an actuating element, allowing the locking element to pivot on a vertical axis parallel to the axis of rotation, ensuring the locking plane is spaced apart, thus avoiding collisions and enabling full pivoting without obstructing functional modules or handrails.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the locking element is attached directly to the axis of rotation, then the structure is simple, but the passage width is reduced due to collision with functional components or handrails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidpassage width
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The locking element is offset from the vertical axis of rotation by a distance e, creating an eccentric mounting arrangement. This dimensional offset allows the locking element to pivot without colliding with functional components or handrails that are positioned along the axis, thereby maintaining full passage width while preserving structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of moving object

If the locking element is positioned closer to the axis of rotation, then passage width is maximized, but the locking element may collide with functional modules integrated into side boundaries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassage widthVSAvoidcollision avoidance
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By mounting the locking element eccentrically at a distance e from the axis of rotation, the invention creates a dimensional separation between the locking element's pivot path and the functional modules integrated into the side boundaries. This offset positioning ensures that the locking element can pivot through its full range of motion without colliding with handrails or functional components, thereby simultaneously maximizing passage width and ensuring collision-free operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Area of stationary object

If functional components are integrated into side boundaries within the pivot range, then space utilization is optimized, but the locking element's pivoting movement is obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidpivoting movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The eccentric mounting of the locking element at a distance e from the axis of rotation creates a spatial separation that allows functional modules to be integrated into the side boundaries within the nominal pivot range without obstructing the locking element's movement. The offset positioning ensures that the locking element pivots in a path that clears these integrated components, thereby optimizing space utilization while maintaining smooth pivoting operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4004880B1Access control device and person barrier therefore
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 MAGNETIC AUTOCONTROL GMBH
  • EP4004880B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4004880B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4004880B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The application relates to a pedestrian gate (3) for an access control device, having a blocking element (7) and having an actuating element (8), wherein the blocking element (7) is fastened to the actuating element (8) and is pivotable by means of said actuating element (8) about a vertical axis of rotation (11) between a blocking position and an access position. The blocking element (7) is, in a vertical projection, formed so as to run substantially rectilinearly and, here, defines a vertical blocking plane (12) which does not encompass the axis of rotation (11).