Electric Strike Assembly Actuator Blocking Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric rim strikes consume high power and experience significant temperature rises during continuous duty operation, necessitating a solution for reduced power consumption and heat management.
Innovation Solution
An electric strike assembly with a housing, pivotally mounted keeper, actuator assembly, and rotatably mounted blocking element, where the actuator paddle controls the blocking element's rotation to determine the keeper's locking condition, optimizing power usage and minimizing temperature rise through efficient actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional electric rim strikes with motors and solenoids are used, then the locking function is reliable, but power consumption is high and temperature rise is significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional motor-driven mechanical system with a purely mechanical spring-loaded blocking element system. The actuator simply rotates the blocking element to either block or allow the keeper from returning to its locked position, eliminating the need for continuous motor power while maintaining reliable locking functionality through the mechanical spring mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic action by only applying power to the actuator when state changes are needed (locking or unlocking). Once the blocking element is positioned, the mechanical spring maintains the state without requiring continuous electrical power, thereby significantly reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If conventional electric rim strikes operate continuously, then the locking state is maintained, but temperature rises 30-40° Fahrenheit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the motor component that generates heat through continuous electrical operation. Instead, a mechanical spring-loaded blocking element system maintains the locking state passively once positioned, requiring no continuous power and generating minimal heat, thus solving the temperature rise issue while maintaining continuous duty reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded blocking element system is self-sustaining once actuated. The mechanical spring automatically maintains the blocking element in its positioned state without requiring continuous external power input, making the system self-service capable and eliminating the heat generation associated with continuous motor operation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a simple actuator mechanism is used, then power consumption is reduced, but the locking mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex motor, gear train, and control electronics from conventional electric strikes. By taking out these power-intensive components and replacing them with a simple actuator that only rotates a blocking element, the design achieves minimal power consumption while the blocking element mechanism itself remains mechanically simple and intuitive.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric strike assembly includes a housing formed with a recessed portion, a keeper pivotally arranged in the recessed portion of the housing, the keeper having an abutment, an actuator assembly having an actuator and an actuator paddle, and a blocking element rotatably mounted in the recessed portion of the housing, wherein cooperation of the actuator paddle with the blocking element is controlled by rotation of the actuator and determines a locking condition of the keeper based on a rotational position of the blocking element with respect to the abutment. In accordance with other aspects of the present disclosure, a locking system includes a door assembly having a latch, a door frame for mounting the door assembly, and an electric strike assembly mounted in the door frame. A method of controlling access through a door includes providing an electric strike assembly in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.