Locking Device Lever Mechanism Intuitive Bolt Direction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door locks are counter-intuitive in operation, as the bolt's protrusion and retraction directions are opposite to the turning direction of the cylinder and thumb-turn knob, causing confusion, especially in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A locking device design where the bolt's protrusion and retraction are in the same direction as the key or thumb-turn knob is turned, utilizing an axle, positioning plate, and cylinder mechanism, with a lever and driving rod system that moves the bolt in sync with the knob or key rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the bolt protrudes and retracts in a direction opposite to the turning direction of the cylinder and thumb-turn knob, then the locking mechanism can be implemented, but the operation becomes counter-intuitive and causes confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional locking mechanism by making the bolt protrude and retract in the same direction as the thumb-turn knob rotation, rather than the opposite direction. This inversion resolves the technical contradiction by prioritizing ease of operation through intuitiveness, while the mechanical complexity remains manageable through a straightforward lever-based transmission system that connects the knob rotation directly to bolt movement.
2Ease of operation
If the bolt protrudes and retracts in the same direction as the key or knob turning, then the operation becomes intuitive and user-friendly, but the mechanical transmission requires additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lever as an intermediary component that connects the thumb-turn knob to the bolt. This lever acts as a mediator that translates the rotational motion of the knob into linear motion of the bolt in the same direction, achieving intuitive operation while keeping the transmission mechanism simple and reliable.
3Reliability
If the lever end is embedded in the bolt trough, then the connection between lever and bolt is secure, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection interface into distinct features: a trough formed in the bolt and a corresponding lever end that fits into this trough. This segmentation allows for secure connection while accommodating normal manufacturing variations, as the trough provides a built-in alignment and positioning feature that reduces the precision requirements compared to traditional interference fits or threaded connections.
Data Source
AI summary
The locking device contains an axle, a bolt, a positioning plate, and a cylinder. The axle is connected to a thumb-turn knob and, from a circumference of the axle, a lever is extended perpendicularly. The bolt has a vertical trough in a rear section. An end of the lever is embedded in the trough. The positioning plate has an elongated opening inside which the axle is embedded. The cylinder is positioned adjacent to and above the rear section of the bolt. The cylinder has a key hole in the center and an activation bar extended from a circumference of the cylinder. When the thumb-turn knob or a key in the key hole is turned, the positioning plate is moved towards an opposite direction. In turn, the lever of the axle pushes or pulls the bolt in the same directions as the key or the knob is turned.