Elastic Spring Bolt Switch Contact Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bolt switching contacts for monitoring locking states are prone to inaccurate and unreliable actuation due to high adjustment efforts and tolerances, leading to reduced service life and precision.

Innovation Solution

A bolt switching contact using an elastic spring element to actuate a reed switch, which can be prestressed and converted into a stretched state to directly or indirectly actuate the passive switching element, eliminating the need for additional electronics and simplifying assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional lever-based actuation is used, then the switching element can be actuated, but the adjustment effort is high and reliability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of actuationVSAvoidadjustment effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional lever-based mechanical actuation system with an elastic spring element that directly actuates the switching element. This substitution eliminates the need for complex adjustment mechanisms and lever systems, thereby reducing adjustment effort while improving actuation reliability through more consistent mechanical engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the actuation mechanism from a lever system with multiple adjustment parameters to an elastic spring element with pre-tensioning. This parameter change simplifies the adjustment process while ensuring more reliable and repeatable actuation of the switching element, as the spring's elastic properties provide consistent force application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If conventional lever-based actuation is used, then the switching element can be actuated, but the service life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice life of switching elementVSAvoidprecision of actuation
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the lever-based mechanical system with an elastic spring element that provides more consistent and reliable actuation. This substitution reduces wear and improves the precision of the switching element's actuation, thereby extending its service life while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If adjustment options are provided, then tolerances can be compensated, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetolerance compensationVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an elastic spring element that automatically compensates for tolerances through its inherent elastic properties. The spring element self-adjusts to accommodate variations in door gap dimensions without requiring external adjustment mechanisms, thereby maintaining adaptability while significantly reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the elastic properties of the spring element to change the mechanical parameters of the actuation system. This allows the system to automatically adapt to tolerance variations through the spring's ability to deform and recover, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design ensures more reliable, precise, and repeatable actuation of the passive switching element, significantly increasing its service life and eliminating the need for adjustments, while allowing for various locking system configurations.

Implementation Method 1

at least one elastic spring element (14), which can be actuated by the bolt and is pre-tensioned at least substantially in an arc-like manner, in that the elastic spring element (14), when actuated by the bolt to actuate the passive switching element (12), can be transformed from its pre-tensioned state, which is pre-tensioned at least substantially in an arc-like manner, into a state that is at least substantially extended

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The passive switching element (12) comprises at least one reed switch (12), which can be actuated directly by the elastic spring element (14) upon each transfer of the elastic spring element (14) to its state that is at least substantially extended

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field generation: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3725983B1Latch switch contact
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 GEZE GMBH
  • EP3725983B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

A bolt switching contact for monitoring the locking state of a bolt of a lock on a door, window, or the like comprises a passive switching element that can be actuated depending on the locking state of the bolt. The passive switching element can be actuated by at least one elastic spring element, pre-tensioned at least substantially in an arc, which can be actuated by the bolt. This is achieved by the elastic spring element being able to be converted from its pre-tensioned state, at least substantially in an arc, to a state that is at least substantially extended when actuated by the bolt.