Floating Coupling Part in Gear Housing for Window Fitting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gear arrangements for connecting rod fittings, such as espagnolette fittings, lack reliable burglary protection, as they can be easily manipulated into an open position by unauthorized individuals without a locking device, particularly in outward-opening windows and doors, and are often expensive to build.

Innovation Solution

A gear arrangement with a coupling part in the gear housing that moves transversely to engage locking contours, preventing unauthorized movement by ensuring no idle stroke and utilizing tapered teeth and a spring element for enhanced reliability, along with a coupling projection for secure engagement with the drive rod.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking device or anti-return device is provided to secure the fitting in the locked position, then burglary protection is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburglary protectionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the locking function directly into the gear arrangement by integrating locking contours on the coupling part that engage with corresponding contours on the housing. This combination eliminates the need for separate locking devices while providing reliable burglary protection through the inherent mechanical interlocking of the gear components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gear arrangement automatically provides burglary protection through its own structural features - the locking contours on the coupling part engage with the housing to prevent unauthorized movement. The system serves its own security function without requiring additional dedicated locking mechanisms, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a release element with unlocking section is added to prevent unauthorized opening, then burglary protection is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburglary protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The unlocking function is merged into the gear wheel mechanism itself. The gear wheel's rotation directly controls the coupling part's movement, which in turn engages or disengages the locking contours. This integration eliminates the need for separate release elements while maintaining secure locking and controlled unlocking capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gear arrangement automatically provides controlled unlocking through its own operational mechanism - rotating the gear wheel moves the coupling part transversely to disengage locking contours. The system manages its own security function through normal operation without requiring additional unlocking components, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the coupling part is designed to move transversely to engage locking contours, then reliability of locking is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transverse movement mechanism is merged into the coupling part's integration with the gear wheel. As the gear wheel rotates, it directly drives the coupling part to move transversely relative to the housing, engaging or disengaging locking contours. This integration achieves reliable locking through the gear's inherent rotational-to-linear motion conversion without adding separate transverse movement mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of time

If the teeth of the gear wheel and coupling part are designed to taper towards the end, then no idle stroke is achieved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidle strokeVSAvoidtooth geometry precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The tooth geometry parameters are changed by designing tapered teeth that narrow towards the end. This parameter modification eliminates idle stroke by ensuring continuous engagement between gear teeth and coupling part teeth throughout the rotation, allowing the gear to transition smoothly between locking and unlocking positions without dead zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution provides a cost-effective and reliable gear arrangement that prevents unauthorized adjustment of connecting rod fittings by ensuring secure locking and unlocking mechanisms, enhancing burglary protection with minimal idle stroke and clear locking indicators.

Implementation Method 1

The coupling part is supported on the housing or the drive rod via at least one spring element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2808466B1Drive unit for a fitting on a connecting rod
Publication Date: 2016.09.21 ROTO FRANK AG
  • EP2808466B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2808466B1 patent drawingFigure 1b~1c
  • EP2808466B1 patent drawingFigure 1d~1e

AI summary

A gear arrangement (200) for a connecting rod fitting of a window, a door or the like.with a gear housing (202) in which a gear (203) actuated by a control element is arranged, the teeth (205, 206, 207, 206a) of which mesh with the teeth (212) of a coupling part (213), wherein the coupling part (213) is coupled to a connecting rod (214) of the connecting rod fitting and is movable in the direction of connecting rod movement (227) when the gear (203) is actuated, wherein the coupling part (213) has a locking contour (225a, 225b) with which it interacts with a locking contour (224a, 224b) of the gear housing (202) in a locking position of the connecting rod fitting and is arranged in the housing (202) such that it is engaged when the gear (203) is actuated to unlock or Locking the connecting rod fitting, which performs a movement transverse to the direction of movement of the connecting rod (227), is characterized in that the connecting rod (214) is floatingly mounted in the housing (202).