Escape Door Spring Assistant for Tunnel Overpressure Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing escape door units in traffic tunnels require excessive manual force to open during emergencies due to increased air pressure, which can hinder evacuation, and rely on electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic power that may be unavailable during such situations.
Innovation Solution
A door opening assistant with a preloaded spring element that provides additional force to ease door opening by exerting a spring force on the door, reducing the manual pushing force needed, especially during initial turning, and allowing air flow to reduce counterforce as the door opens further.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If air pressure in the escape route is increased to keep it smoke-free during emergencies, then smoke-free evacuation is improved, but the force required to open the door increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is preloaded during normal operation when the door is closed, storing elastic energy in advance. This preliminary action ensures that when the door needs to be opened during an emergency, the stored spring force is immediately available to assist overcoming the high air pressure, without requiring additional power sources that may be unavailable during emergencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element acts as an intermediary mechanical force provider between the high air pressure resisting door opening and the evacuees. The spring mediates the force requirement by providing additional assisting force, reducing the manual pushing force needed from evacuees while maintaining the necessary overpressure for smoke-free evacuation.
2Force
If electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic power sources are used to assist door opening, then door opening force is improved, but reliability in emergency situations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is self-contained and does not require external power sources, control systems, or maintenance infrastructure. It automatically provides the necessary assisting force when the door is opened, making the system self-sufficient and highly reliable in emergency situations where electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic systems may fail or be unavailable.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element represents a simple, passive mechanical component that is inherently reliable without requiring complex control systems or power sources. While the spring may have limited cycles of operation, its simplicity and lack of dependency on external systems make it more reliable than complex powered systems for emergency door opening assistance.
3Force
If a spring element is preloaded by closing the door, then door opening assistance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening assistant is integrated with the existing door closure mechanism. The spring element is combined with the door frame and door structure, sharing space and functional elements with the emergency lock and door spring systems. This merging approach provides door opening assistance while minimizing additional complexity by utilizing existing structural components.
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 door opening assistant assists in easily opening doors during emergencies by providing spring force, reducing the manual effort required and overcoming high overpressure, ensuring smooth evacuation without reliance on electrical or hydraulic power.
Implementation Method 1
a door opening assistant arranged to exert a spring force on the door for reducing a pushing force needed to open the door
Implementation Method 2
a slot is formed between the door and the door frame inducing an air flow around the door such that the counterforce on the door reduces
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an escape door unit, comprising a door frame and a door hingeably mounted to the door frame. The escape door unit further comprising an emergency lock locking the door in the door frame, in a closed position of the door, and an unlocking mechanism for unlocking the emergency lock for opening the door from the closed position. The escape door unit further comprises a door opening assistant exerting a spring force on the door for reducing a pushing force needed to open the door upon activating the unlocking mechanism.