Egress Window Overlapping Frame Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Egress windows in passenger vehicles, such as buses and railroad cars, face challenges in maintaining a watertight seal and preventing contamination, while also requiring reduced opening effort and enhanced latch mechanism durability.
Innovation Solution
The egress window assembly features a circumferential outer frame with striker pins and a hingedly mounted inner frame, a release mechanism with a flexible cable and rotary slam latches, and an overlapping design for improved sealing and reduced opening effort, eliminating the need for a large egress bar and enhancing weather resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional latch mechanism with a large egress bar is used, then the window can be securely latched, but the opening effort required is high and the mechanism is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the large egress bar component from the traditional latch mechanism. Instead, a compact latch assembly is used that integrates the latching function directly into the window frame without requiring a separate large operating bar, thereby reducing opening effort and simplifying the mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical latch system with a simplified mechanism that uses a small operating bar connected to a latch assembly utilizing spring-loaded arms and cam surfaces. This substitution reduces the mechanical complexity while maintaining secure latching through the interaction of the cam surface and latch arm geometry.
2Reliability
If the window frame uses a multi-component design for durability, then structural integrity is improved, but contamination can infiltrate through gaps between components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple frame components into a unitary one-piece extruded frame structure. This integration eliminates the gaps and joints between separate components that would otherwise allow contamination infiltration, while maintaining structural integrity through the inherent strength of the extruded aluminum profile design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes extruded aluminum alloy material that combines strength, corrosion resistance, and weatherability in a single material system. This composite material approach provides durable structural integrity while the continuous extruded form prevents contamination infiltration pathways.
3Reliability
If a complex latch mechanism is used to prevent unintended opening, then security is improved, but the release mechanism becomes difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates spring-loaded latch arms that dynamically engage and disengage based on operating forces. The springs provide automatic engagement for security while allowing easy release when sufficient force is applied to the operating bar, creating a dynamic system that adapts to different operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is designed with pre-loaded spring arms that are already positioned and ready to engage the cam surface. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the window is closed, the latch automatically secures with high reliability, and when the operating bar is moved, the pre-positioned springs enable immediate and easy release without requiring complex sequencing.
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
The solution provides improved weather sealing, reduced contamination infiltration, and easier egress with lower opening effort, while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic consistency with other vehicle windows.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary slam latch with a coil spring biased against a striker pin
Implementation Method 2
A tensioning element can be provided between the release handle and the first egress latch to absorb over-travel of the release handle
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle egress window comprises a circumferential outer frame forming an auxiliary egress opening for a motor vehicle passenger compartment and an inner frame unit. The outer frame has an outer frame member with an inner surface and at least a first striker pin. The inner frame unit is mounted to the outer frame for movement between closed and open positions has a circumferential inner frame, a glazing pane mounted to the inner frame, at least a first egress latch mounted to the inner frame, and a release mechanism. The egress latch is operative to latch to the striker pin to hold the inner frame unit in the closed position. The release mechanism includes a manually operative release handle, preferably mounted at an elevated position on a vertical side portion of the inner frame, and release linkage comprising at least a first link from the release handle to the first latch. In certain embodiments the inner and outer frames overlap radially for improved functionality.