Electromechanical Lock Self-Locking Lever Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electromechanical locks require electrical pre-installation and are fragile, leading to damage and stock management challenges due to their design, especially in communal doors where many people pass, and they lack effective mechanisms to prevent forced opening.

Innovation Solution

A retractable, modular anti-panic lock with magnetic and mechanical self-locking features, including a closure latch system with a self-locking lever and permanent magnet, which prevents forced opening by utilizing a drive lever, guide rod, and additional devices for automatic and manual operation, allowing remote opening and key operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional electromechanical locks are installed in communal doors, then remote opening functionality is achieved, but the locks are fragile and prone to damage due to high traffic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelock durabilityVSAvoiddamage from high traffic
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lock is divided into modular components: a strike plate fixed to the door frame, a housing fixed to the door, and separate mechanism elements housed within. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and replaces only the necessary parts when maintenance is needed, improving overall durability in high-traffic communal doors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces conventional fragile mechanical bolt locks with a closure latch system that uses a self-locking lever and permanent magnet for magnetic-mechanical self-locking. This substitution eliminates the fragility of traditional mechanical bolts while maintaining secure locking functionality, making the lock more reliable in doors with high passenger traffic.

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

2Ease of operation

If electric strike plates are used in side hung doors, then remote opening is enabled, but visible damage occurs when the frame profile is broken from the front

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote opening capabilityVSAvoidvisible damage to door frame
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a closure latch as an intermediary element between the drive lever and the strike plate. The closure latch with self-locking lever provides the release mechanism for remote opening, while the permanent magnet ensures magnetic-mechanical self-locking. This intermediary system enables remote opening functionality without requiring damage to the door frame profile, as the release mechanism is integrated into the movable door assembly rather than the fixed frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If conventional mechanical bolt locks are used, then simple mechanical operation is achieved, but the locks are fragile and require frequent replacement in high-traffic areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical operation simplicityVSAvoidlock durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lock combines magnetic and mechanical elements in a composite system. The permanent magnet provides magnetic attraction for self-locking, while the self-locking lever provides mechanical interlocking. This composite magnetic-mechanical system maintains the simplicity of mechanical operation while dramatically improving durability and reliability, eliminating the fragility of conventional all-mechanical bolt locks in high-traffic communal doors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Adaptability or versatility

If diverse opening options are provided for different door types, then versatility is improved, but stock management becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor type compatibilityVSAvoidstock management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lock is designed as a universal system that can be adapted to various door types (inward swinging, outward swinging, rotational, left or right sliding doors) through a single basic configuration. The modular design with strike plate and housing that can be positioned appropriately, combined with the versatile closure latch mechanism, allows one lock design to serve multiple door configurations, significantly simplifying stock management while maintaining adaptability to different door types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 lock effectively prevents forced opening and provides secure, reliable operation without visible damage, suitable for various door types, including European chamber doors, and reduces stock management needs by integrating magnetic and mechanical self-locking mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

a permanent magnet (50) housed in an upper grooving (3a) of the closure latch (3), such that when the same is in an advanced position closing the door, the self-locking lever (44) is retained by the permanent magnet (50) upon which it is supported in a resting position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP2980339B1Electromechanical lock
Publication Date: 2016.11.02 RA BA CIERRES ELECTRICOS
  • EP2980339B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2980339B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2980339B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Inside a housing (2) fixed to a door, a locking device determined by an independent self-locking lever (44) is located, which pivots on a fixed front shaft (45) located above a closure latch (3), the self-locking lever (44) having a first lower angular recess (46) and a second lower inverted V-shaped recess (47), opposite a copier shaft (48) integrally joined to the drive lever (5), the self-locking lever (44) furthermore being provided with an open channel (49) opposite a spool (14a) built into a guide shaft (14) located above the copier shaft (48). The closure latch (3) is locked into the door-closed position via the first lower angular recess (46) of the self-locking lever (44).