External Lever Double-Door Transfer for Sealed Door Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealed transfer devices between closed volumes are cumbersome, tedious to operate, and require significant effort to open and close double doors, posing risks to operators and complicating maintenance due to the use of remote motorized mechanisms or manual mechanisms outside the enclosed volumes.
Innovation Solution
A sealed transfer device with a manual control lever and bayonet connections that allows for quick and reliable opening and closing of double doors using a rotary shaft and offset rotation axes, combined with safety mechanisms to ensure secure locking and unlocking of flanges and doors, minimizing the need for manual effort and reducing the risk of seal breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manually operated mechanisms are arranged outside enclosed volumes, then operator safety is improved by limiting interventions in toxic environments, but ease of operation deteriorates as opening and closing becomes tedious and difficult requiring several turns of control wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimensional approach by moving the control mechanism from the interior to the exterior of the enclosed volume, and by introducing an offset rotational dimension. The control mechanism is positioned outside the enclosure while acting on the door through a hinge axis offset from the door's plane, allowing external operation with reduced effort through mechanical advantage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary hinge mechanism with offset rotation axis that mediates between the external control input and the door movement. This hinge acts as a mechanical intermediary that transforms the control motion into door opening/closing motion while providing mechanical advantage to reduce operator effort.
2Ease of operation
If remotely operated motorized mechanisms are used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing a purely mechanical control system that operates autonomously without motors or power sources. The mechanism uses the operator's direct mechanical input through the hinge offset system to open and close doors, eliminating the need for remote motorized actuation while reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the motorized components from the system entirely, removing complexity by using only passive mechanical elements. The control mechanism relies on mechanical advantage through the offset hinge rather than active motorized systems, simplifying the overall device architecture.
3Reliability
If conventional manual control mechanisms with sliding rack and pinion systems are used, then operator safety is improved, but productivity deteriorates as opening and closing doors becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by offsetting the hinge rotation axis from the door's plane, creating a mechanical advantage that reduces the number of control movements needed. This dimensional change transforms the control geometry to achieve faster door operation while maintaining external control for operator safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by using a movable control lever that rotates about an offset axis, creating dynamic mechanical advantage during door operation. The lever's position and the offset hinge create a dynamic system that amplifies operator input, enabling faster door opening and closing compared to static rack-and-pinion systems.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5b
Figure 5c~6a
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for sealed transfer between two enclosed volumes, comprising a first flange and a second flange (10) which define a passage opening into the enclosed volumes and can be secured to each other by a first bayonet connection, a first door and a second door (11) which close off the passage openings and can be secured to each other by a second bayonet connection, the first door (11) being hingedly mounted on the first flange (10) by means of a hinge (4) comprising a hinge pin, characterized in that the device comprises an external manual control lever (9) which is secured to a rotary pin penetrating the first flange (10) and which is coupled to the hinge pin in such a way that the actuation of the control lever (9) drives the hinge pin, thus opening or closing the first door (11).