Gate Emergency Release Device Plastic Locking Cylinder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current emergency release devices for gates are not reliable over long periods due to corrosion and damage from sharp edges, especially when exposed to weather, and can fail to operate effectively during power outages.

Innovation Solution

An emergency release device with a locking cylinder made of high-strength plastic and a tubular base housing, featuring a separate traction means guide and a cable guide to minimize friction and wear, along with a lock cylinder housing made of high-strength polymeric materials like PA, PPA, PPS, PET, or PEEK, which provides increased corrosion resistance and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the locking cylinder is made of metal materials (die-cast zinc), then the strength and durability are improved, but corrosion resistance deteriorates when exposed to weather

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestrengthVSAvoidcorrosion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter of the locking cylinder from metal (die-cast zinc) to plastic material. This material substitution resolves the contradiction by providing both sufficient strength for locking function and superior corrosion resistance for outdoor weather exposure, eliminating the rust and degradation issues associated with metal components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material construction where the locking cylinder is made of plastic material that combines structural integrity with corrosion resistance. This composite approach allows the component to meet both mechanical strength requirements and environmental durability requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If the traction means is guided through sharp edges in the base housing, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the wear and damage to the traction means increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidwear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a guide element as an intermediary component between the traction means and the base housing. This guide element has a rounded geometry that mediates the interaction, preventing direct contact between the traction means and sharp edges, thereby reducing wear while maintaining structural simplicity through the addition of a single geometric feature.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies curvature by providing a rounded guide element instead of sharp edges. This spherical/curved geometry reduces stress concentration and friction on the traction means, preventing damage while maintaining the overall simplicity of the base housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If the locking cylinder is fully enclosed in the base housing, then the protection from environmental factors is improved, but the accessibility for key operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from environmental factorsVSAvoidaccessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the base housing structure to create a selective opening that allows key access to the locking cylinder while maintaining environmental protection. This segmentation enables the system to simultaneously achieve both enclosure for protection and aperture for operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing a specific opening or access point in the base housing only where needed for key insertion, while the rest of the locking cylinder remains enclosed for environmental protection. This localized access maintains both protection and operability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3070236B1Emergency unlocking device
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 HORMANN ANTRIEBSTECHN
  • EP3070236B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3070236B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3070236B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

To improve an emergency release device for a gate so that it operates more reliably over a long period of time, the invention provides an emergency release device (10) for a gate which has a gate leaf (38) and a gate drive for driving the gate leaf (38), with a base housing (16) to be fastened in a through-opening (36) in the gate leaf (38), a locking cylinder (18) received in the base housing (16) and a pull element (20) attached to the locking cylinder (18), the other end of which can be connected to a decoupling device for decoupling the gate leaf (38) from a drive unit of the gate drive, wherein the locking cylinder (18) locks to the base housing (16) in the locked state, wherein the locking cylinder (18) is at least partially made of a plastic material (56) and a separate pull element guide (48) for guiding the pull element (20) is provided on the base housing (16).