Elastomeric Sensor Support for Contactless Door Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door safety systems require direct contact between sensors and obstacles, leading to potential excessive contact pressure on individuals and instability in sensor positioning during impact, which complicates the implementation of contactless barrier solutions.
Innovation Solution
A door equipped with sensor means featuring an elastically yielding tubular supporting body made of elastomeric material, supporting infrared emission and reception sensors, allowing for elastic deformation and stable positioning, which shifts the sensor axis upon impact to immediately stop the door movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid mounting bracket is used to support sensors, then sensor positioning stability is improved, but the ability to immediately shift sensor axis upon impact is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the mounting bracket from rigid to elastically deformable. The bracket is designed to deform elastically under impact forces, allowing it to immediately shift the sensor axis when an obstacle is detected, while still maintaining stable positioning during normal operation through its elastic recovery properties.
2Reliability
If a tubular rubber profile with direct contact sensor is used, then obstacle detection is improved, but excessive contact pressure on individuals is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical direct-contact detection system with an optical detection system using infrared emission and reception sensors. This substitution allows the door to detect obstacles without direct physical contact, eliminating the harmful contact pressure while maintaining reliable obstacle detection through optical beam interruption.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If infrared emission and reception sensors are used, then contactless obstacle detection is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the mounting bracket to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support for the infrared sensors, enables elastic deformation for impact detection, and positions the sensors at the optimal distance from the door edge. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by consolidating several requirements into a single component.
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 a contactless, reliable, and cost-effective door safety system that effectively interrupts door movement upon obstacle detection without direct contact, ensuring precise positioning and safety while maintaining low production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a supporting body (5) which extends in parallel to the direction of movement (100) of the end element (2a) and is made of elastically yielding material in order to allow an elastic deformation of the supporting body (5) following an impact against an obstacle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A door (1) which comprises a closure element (2) moveable on command, by way of drive means, between an open condition and a closed condition in which at least one end element (2a) which extends at right angles with respect to the direction of movement (100) of the closure element (2) is designed to be brought proximate to an abutment portion (3a) formed on a fixed structure (3), the end element (2a) being associated with sensor means (4) which are functionally connected to the drive means in order to interrupt the operation of the drive means in the presence of an obstacle along the path of the end element (2a), the sensor means (4) comprising at least one first, emission sensor (4a) which is adapted to emit an infrared signal (200) and extends in parallel to the end element (2a) and a respective second, reception sensor (4b) which is adapted to receive the infrared signal (200); the first, emission sensor (4a) and the second, reception sensor (4b) are supported by a respective supporting body (5) which extends in parallel to the direction of movement (100) of the end element (2a) and is made of elastically yielding material in order to allow an elastic deformation of the supporting body (5) following an impact against an obstacle during the transition of the closure element (2) from the open condition to the closed condition or vice versa.