Flat Punch Device for Emergency Glass Shattering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for breaking glass in emergency situations are cumbersome, easily removable, and insufficient for toughened glass types, posing obstacles and failing to penetrate effectively.
Innovation Solution
A compact punch device with a flat actuating member, a sharp tungsten carbide penetrating tool, and a compressible spacer, adhered to the glass, which can be actuated to drive the tool into the glass with sufficient force to shatter it, featuring a safety mechanism to prevent accidental activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a loose hammer or heavy impact tool is provided to break glass, then the impact force is sufficient to break glass sheets, but the tool can be easily removed, lost or stolen and presents safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the penetrating tool with a mounting system that integrates it directly onto the glass sheet. The tool is no longer a loose hammer but a fixed assembly where the penetrating element is mounted on a backing plate that adheres to the glass, eliminating the risk of loss or theft while maintaining impact capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mounting system with adhesive backing and a retaining element as an intermediary between the penetrating tool and the user/environment. This intermediary secures the tool to the glass sheet, preventing removal while allowing controlled activation when needed.
2Device complexity
If a blunt hammer is used to break glass, then the tool is simple and readily available, but the impact is insufficient to break toughened glass with extremely tough external skins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a penetrating tool with a specifically designed sharp tip made of hard material at the point of contact with the glass. This localized hardness and sharpness enables penetration of toughened glass skins, while the rest of the device remains simple in construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining a hard penetrating element (such as tungsten carbide or hardened steel) with a softer backing plate material. This composite structure provides both the necessary penetration capability through the hard tip and overall structural integrity through the backing plate.
3Reliability
If devices with moving parts and complicated constructions are fitted on glass panes to break glass in emergency, then the glass breaking function is achieved, but the devices have large dimensions and stand out far from the glass sheet creating obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts unnecessary moving parts and complicated mechanisms from the device. The design relies on a simple penetrating tool mounted on a flat backing plate with adhesive, eliminating complex linkages, springs, or actuating mechanisms that would increase the device's protrusion distance from the glass surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from three-dimensional bulky devices to a two-dimensional flat profile by mounting the penetrating tool on a flat backing plate that adheres closely to the glass surface. This dimensional change reduces protrusion while maintaining functionality.
4Length of stationary object
If a penetrating tool with sharp tip is mounted close to the glass surface, then the device profile is low and obstacles are minimized, but accidental activation may occur without proper safety measures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating a safety mechanism that prevents the penetrating tool from being activated accidentally. The retaining element or adhesive mounting creates a barrier that must be deliberately overcome, counteracting any unintended forces that might cause activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by pre-mounting the device securely to the glass with adhesive and a retaining element before emergency situations occur. This preliminary securing action ensures the device remains inactive and safe during normal conditions while being ready for immediate use when needed.
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 device effectively shatters toughened glass with minimal thickness, preventing obstacles and ensuring reliable emergency exits without the need for loose tools, while being easy to activate in emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
a force of sufficient magnitude applied to the actuating member in an axial direction towards the glass sheet compresses the spacer and drives the tip of the penetrating tool into contact with the glass sheet
Implementation Method 2
mounting means for mounting the punch device on a glass sheet
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a punch device that includes an actuating member of flat proportions, a penetrating tool with a sharp tip carried by the actuating member, a compressible spacer attached to the surface of the actuating member alongside the penetrating tool and mounting means for mounting the punch device on a glass sheet with the tip of the penetrating tool directed towards the glass sheet. The arrangement is such that a force of sufficient magnitude applied to the actuating member in an axial direction towards the glass sheet compresses the spacer and drives the tip of the penetrating tool into contact with the glass sheet thereby to break the glass sheet. In one application the punch device can be used to break an emergency exit window in a bus.