Espagnolette Lock Emergency Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bar locks with multiple locking mechanisms pose difficulties in emergency unlocking scenarios, as manual decoupling against spring forces becomes impractical with three or more locks, especially when they are spaced far apart.
Innovation Solution
A bar lock design featuring an emergency release mechanism that decouples the rod from the actuation while maintaining coupling with the locks, allowing for easy operation regardless of the number of locks, using a decoupling device and emergency actuation to unlock the door leaf.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual decoupling against spring forces is used for emergency unlocking, then the locking mechanism can be released, but the operation becomes impractical with three or more locks spaced far apart
Solution Approach 1:
A rod is introduced as an intermediary element that connects multiple locks spaced far apart. The rod transmits the actuating force from the emergency release to all locks simultaneously, eliminating the need to manually operate each lock individually against spring forces. This mediator allows a single operation point to control multiple distributed locking points.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system is segmented into multiple independent locks that can be distributed along the door frame. Each lock operates independently with its own spring force, but they are coordinated through the common rod mechanism. This segmentation allows locks to be spaced far apart while maintaining individual reliability and collective controllability through the emergency release.
2Ease of operation
If the actuator is positioned on the outside of the door for normal operation, then the lock can be operated conventionally, but the door cannot be unlocked from the inside in emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency release mechanism provides universal functionality by enabling the door to be unlocked from either the inside or outside. The same rod mechanism that transmits force during normal outside operation also enables inside emergency release. This multi-functional design allows the locking system to adapt to different operational contexts and locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The emergency release inverts the normal operation direction by allowing actuation from the inside rather than only from the outside. The rod mechanism reverses the force transmission path, enabling the user to pull the rod from the interior side to trigger unlocking, opposite to the conventional push/turn actuation from the exterior.
3Reliability
If multiple locks are distributed over the length of the bar to provide reliable locking, then the security is improved, but the emergency release becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple distributed locks are merged into a single coordinated system through the common rod. Instead of having separate emergency release mechanisms for each lock, the rod combines them into one unified actuation system. This merging reduces the overall complexity by consolidating multiple control points into a single emergency release interface while maintaining the distributed reliable locking points.
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
Enables straightforward emergency unlocking of the door leaf from the inside, even with multiple locks, ensuring safety in situations like climatic chambers by allowing decoupling and actuation with a single-handed operation.
Implementation Method 1
DE 44 01 971 A1 discloses a motor-operated rod lock in which emergency unlocking is possible via an energy accumulator designed as a gas spring. The rod is moved by the force stored in the gas spring, as a result of which the bolts coupled to the rod can pivot into the open position.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1e
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The invention relates to a rod lock for locking a door leaf (101) to a door frame (102) with at least one locking mechanism (3) and an actuation (2) for actuating the locking mechanism (3), which are coupled to each other via at least one rod (4), and an emergency release (5) for unlocking the door leaf (101) in emergency situations, wherein the emergency release (5) is designed such that the rod (4) can be decoupled from the actuation (2) via the emergency release (5) and the locking mechanism (3) can be actuated to unlock the door leaf (101).