Electric Door Strike With Gravity Fed Locking Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrically operable door strikes face issues with misalignment, binding, and corrosion due to multiple components, and often require a spring with insufficient force to return the locking mechanism to its original position, leading to potential malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

A design featuring a pivotally mounted keeper with locking member engaging arms and a dual solenoid system, where one solenoid acts to move the locking member rectilinearly and upwardly, allowing for increased security and simplified operation by inverting the strike housing to change the 'hand' of the strike and eliminating the need for a spring to return the locking member to its normal position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a spring is used to return the locking member to its normal position, then the locking mechanism can be reset, but the spring force is often insufficient to overcome misalignment, foreign matter, and friction, leading to malfunctioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking mechanism reliabilityVSAvoidspring return force

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the spring component from the locking mechanism. Instead of using a spring to return the locking member to its normal position, the design allows the locking member to slide freely under the influence of gravity when the solenoid is de-energized, removing the reliability issues associated with insufficient spring force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses gravity as a counterbalancing force to replace the spring. The locking member is designed to be weight-balanced so that gravity provides the necessary force to return the locking member to its normal position without requiring an additional spring mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Ease of operation

If multiple components such as pivotable levers are used in the strike construction, then the locking mechanism can be actuated, but the assembly becomes complex and prone to misalignment, binding, and corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking mechanism actuationVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple separate components into a single integrated solenoid assembly. The solenoid directly actuates the locking member without requiring intermediate pivotable levers or linkages, reducing the number of parts and eliminating alignment and binding issues while maintaining full actuation functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The solenoid assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides the actuating force, guides the locking member movement, and incorporates the return mechanism through gravity. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the strike housing is fixed in a specific orientation, then the locking mechanism operates correctly, but changing the 'hand' from left to right requires a different configuration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking mechanism operationVSAvoidhand configuration flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention enables easy conversion between left-hand and right-hand configurations by allowing the strike housing to be inverted. The internal components are designed symmetrically or with reversible mounting features, so that flipping the housing changes the operational hand without requiring different parts or complex reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 stronger locking mechanism with reduced friction and improved security, allowing for easy conversion from left to right-hand operation without a spring, enhancing reliability and assembly efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

dual solenoid system, where one solenoid acts to move the locking member rectilinearly and upwardly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolenoid: Solenoid

Implementation Method 2

the locking member is urged into its locking position by gravity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2372053B1High strength electric door strike with gravity fed locking member

Publication Date: 2017.03.01 TRINE ACCESS TECH

AI summary

A high strength electrically operable door strike having a simplified design and a gravity fed locking member. The strike comprises two solenoids operating in opposite directions wherein one solenoid is used when the strike is mounted for use with a left hand opening door and the other solenoid is used when the strike is mounted for use with a right hand opening door. The strike is simply turned upside down to accommodate a door having the opposite hand. The strike has a housing which is reinforced with ribs. The ribs also provide a reduced surface area sliding surface for the gravity fed locking member and thereby permit the locking member to slide up and down with less friction.