Electronic Door Seal with Conductive Contacts for Transport Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current door sealing systems for transport vehicles are inefficient, relying on visual checks that are time-consuming and prone to errors, especially in high-security environments like airports, where doors must be checked before take-off, leading to administrative burdens and potential safety risks due to the possibility of unnoticed re-opening.

Innovation Solution

A sealing system that combines a visual indication with an electronic closed circuit, allowing for double security checks, where a seal is attached to doors and door frames, creating a closed electrical circuit that detects re-opening and sends alerts, using conductive contact means and a portable logging device to record and verify the sealing status, reducing the need for manual checks and minimizing delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If visual checking with adhesive tape is used for door sealing, then the sealing procedure can be performed simply, but it is time-consuming and prone to errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of sealing procedureVSAvoidspeed of clearance process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual visual checking system with an electronic sealing system that uses conductive contact means and electronic indicators. The seal includes a conductive contact means that electrically connects to the door and door frame, providing automated detection of door status without requiring manual visual inspection, thereby increasing clearance speed while maintaining simplicity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic seal system performs self-verification of door sealing status through its own electronic components. The conductive contact means automatically detects when the door is properly sealed and triggers electronic indicators or logging devices to record the status, eliminating the need for continuous human intervention and accelerating the clearance process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If manual filling of paper check lists is used for recording sealing procedure, then the system remains simple, but it creates administrative burden and is error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of recording systemVSAvoidtime for archiving and verification
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual paper check lists with electronic data processing systems. The logging device automatically captures sealing information and transmits it to a computer system for storage and verification, eliminating manual writing and archiving operations. This substitution dramatically reduces the time required for record-keeping while maintaining system simplicity through automated processes.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic sealing system provides automatic feedback by continuously monitoring the door status through conductive contact means and electronically recording the sealing state. The system self-verifies and logs sealing procedures, providing immediate confirmation without requiring manual verification, thus eliminating time losses associated with paper archive retrieval and cross-checking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If visual inspection is used for detecting re-opened doors, then the method remains simple, but it is unreliable and prone to missed detections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of detection methodVSAvoiddetection accuracy of re-opening
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces visual inspection with electronic detection through conductive contact means that continuously monitor the door's electrical continuity. When the door is re-opened, the break in electrical contact is automatically detected by the electronic seal system and logged, providing reliable detection without the subjectivity and human error inherent in visual inspection methods.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic sealing system provides continuous feedback on door status through its conductive contact means, which constantly monitor electrical continuity. Any re-opening event immediately breaks the electrical circuit and triggers electronic detection and logging, ensuring reliable and immediate detection of unauthorized door openings without relying on human visual inspection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If adhesive tape sealing is used, then the sealing process is quick, but it allows for unnoticed re-openings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of sealing applicationVSAvoidsecurity against re-opening
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces adhesive tape with an electronic seal system that uses conductive contact means to create an electrical circuit. This electronic system maintains continuous monitoring of door status, providing both the speed of quick sealing application and the reliability of automated detection against re-openings, eliminating the security flaws of adhesive tape while maintaining operational efficiency.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2372677B1A sealing system for sealing of doors of transport vehicles with door specific seals
Publication Date: 2016.06.01 DEUT POST AG
  • EP2372677B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2(b)
  • EP2372677B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2372677B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a sealing system (1) for sealing of doors (2) of transport vehicles (7) comprising at least one door (2) with at least one first electrical contact (21) means and a corresponding door frame (3) with at least one second electrical contact means (31), where the first and the second contact means (21, 31) are arranged on the same side of the door (2) and the door frame (3) and are electrically connected to build an open electrical circuit (C1), and a seal (4) to be attached to the closed door (2) and the door frame (3) suitable to close the open electrical circuit (C1) between first and second electrical contact means (21, 31) in order to indicate the closure of the door (2). The invention further relates to a portable logging device (5) for recording the sealing of doors (2) as used by the sealing system (1) and to a method to operate such a sealing system (1).