Locking Device Compensating Slide Force Limiting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing locking devices for doors and windows often experience jamming and excessive force issues due to variations in rebate clearance and soiling, leading to potential damage and unreliable locking mechanisms, especially when using springs to absorb driving forces.

Innovation Solution

A locking device with a compensating slide and transmission device that modifies the charging movement of a spring element, allowing for relative movement between the drive slide and driving element, thereby influencing the resulting force to prevent impermissibly high forces, and is designed to be easy to manufacture and use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If springs are used to absorb driving force in the event of blockage, then the locking mechanism can handle variations in rebate clearance, but the force to be overcome increases with increasing distance, leading to very high total forces that can damage components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to rebate clearance variationsVSAvoidtotal driving force
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

A compensating slide is introduced as an intermediary element between the drive slide and the spring. This compensating slide performs a compensating movement that is translated through a transmission device to charge the spring in a modified direction and/or speed, thereby mediating the force transmission and preventing excessive forces from reaching the drive mechanism components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission device modifies the parameters of the spring charging movement by changing the direction and/or speed at which the spring is charged. This parameter modification ensures that the spring absorbs energy in a controlled manner, limiting the peak forces that can damage components while still providing adaptability to rebate clearance variations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the bolt travels different distances due to changes in rebate clearance, then the locking mechanism can accommodate clearance variations, but the bolt may strike a locking recess and jam or cause excessive forces or damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of rebate clearance changesVSAvoidlocking mechanism reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The compensating slide acts as a mediator that performs compensating movement to absorb the variations in bolt travel distance caused by rebate clearance changes. This compensating movement is translated through the transmission device to charge the spring, thereby mediating the force transmission and preventing the bolt from striking the locking recess with excessive force

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring element is charged in advance through the compensating movement to provide cushioning force. This beforehand cushioning prepares the system to handle potential blockages or misalignments, absorbing energy before it can cause damage to the locking mechanism components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Strength

If the drive mechanism is designed to withstand high forces, then it can handle blockages, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive mechanism strengthVSAvoiddrive mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compensating slide and transmission device serve as intermediary elements that modify the force transmission path. By introducing these intermediaries, the drive mechanism does not need to be designed to withstand the full brunt of high forces directly, thereby reducing the overall complexity and manufacturing difficulty while still providing the necessary strength to handle blockages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively limits the driving force to a specific maximum value, preventing overloading of the drive device and other elements, ensuring reliable operation and preventing jamming, even in cases of blockage or misalignment.

Implementation Method 1

a spring element (45) that can be charged by the compensating slide (42) during the compensating movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3299551B1Locking device with compensation slider and transfer member
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 ASSA ABLOY SICHERHEITSTECHNIK GMBH
  • EP3299551B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3299551B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3299551B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a locking device (1) for a door and/or a window with a lock housing designed as a lock case (21) or lock counter case (3) and a lock element (22) which is driven by a drive device (4).To increase the functional reliability of the locking device (1), in particular to limit the force occurring in the event of a blockage, it is provided that the drive device (4) acts on the lock element (22) via a drive slide (44) and a compensating slide (42), wherein, in the event of a blockage of the drive slide, the compensating slide (42) moves relative to the drive slide (44) while charging a spring element (45), and a transmission device (46) is provided which translates the compensating movement of the compensating slide (42) to the spring element (45) in such a way that the spring element (45) is charged with a charging movement modified with respect to direction and/or speed.