Lockable Strike with Adjustable Camming Space Adjuster
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lock strikes for walk-in cold rooms are difficult to release from the wall, especially when overly tightened, and do not accommodate varying wall thicknesses, posing a risk for individuals trapped inside and limiting adjustability.
Innovation Solution
A lockable strike with a moveable bolt and adjustable space adjuster featuring camming surfaces that expand and contract to secure the device to the wall, allowing easy release through a lever mechanism, accommodating different wall thicknesses and enabling quick egress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the fastener is overly tightened to secure the strike to the wall, then the strike becomes more secure, but it becomes difficult to turn and release from the strike
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into two independent components: an externally accessible fastener for secure attachment and an internally accessible release mechanism for easy release. This segmentation allows the strike to be securely mounted while maintaining easy release capability from the inside of the cold room.
Solution Approach 2:
A release mechanism acts as an intermediary between the secured strike and the rod. When activated from inside the cold room, this intermediary mechanism disengages the rod from the strike, allowing easy release without requiring access to the externally tightened fastener.
2Ease of operation
If a threaded rod with knob is used for release, then release is possible, but unfamiliar persons may not realize turning the knob releases the strike
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism incorporates visual indicators (such as color-coded elements or illuminated indicators) that clearly show its function and status. This visual communication ensures that users can immediately identify the release mechanism and understand its purpose, eliminating confusion about how to exit the cold room.
3Device complexity
If a fixed fastener design is used, then the strike structure is simple, but it does not allow for variations in cold-room wall thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener system incorporates adjustable components that allow dynamic adaptation to different wall thicknesses. The fastener can be positioned at various depths along the wall, and the rod length can be adjusted, enabling the same basic fastener design to accommodate a range of wall thicknesses while maintaining structural integrity and secure attachment.
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 lockable strike provides a secure and adjustable solution that allows easy release with a quarter turn of the lever, ensuring safe exit from the cold room even when tightened, and fits various wall thicknesses, enhancing user safety and accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
The space adjuster includes an adjustment base with at least one camming surface inclining in a rotary direction about an adjustment base central rod passageway. The space adjuster also includes a hub body with at least one camming surface inclining in a rotary direction about a hub body central rod passageway. The adjustment base camming surface and the hub body camming surface are configured to mate so as to expand and contract the size of the space adjuster in a longitudinal direction along the rod through rotary movement of the hub body relative to the adjustment base.
Data Source
AI summary
A lockable strike (10) is disclosed which includes an exterior strike assembly (16) and an interior release assembly (17). The exterior strike assembly has a housing (25) and a rod receiver (30) with a slotted rod holder (32). The interior release assembly includes a pinned coupling rod (35), a lever (46), and a space adjuster (47). The pinned coupling rod is received within rod holder. The space adjuster includes an adjustment base (56) and a hub body (57). The adjustment base has a floor (63) with three stepped camming surfaces (65). The nub body also a floor (75) with three stepped camming surfaces (77) which are configured to ride upon the adjustment base camming surfaces. To adjust for varying thicknesses of a wall, the space adjuster is expanded in size by rotating the nub body relative to the adjustment base so that the camming surfaces more these components apart.