Espagnolette Fitting Locking Stop with Magnetic Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing window and door closure systems with rigid counter bearings are disruptive, especially in floor doors, due to protrusion and variable tolerances between sash and frame, leading to inefficiencies in locking mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A counter bearing with a base body and a stop element that can be displaced, featuring symmetrically distributed magnets around the stop's center of gravity and laterally arranged magnets next to the locking element, allowing the stop to move into a protruding position only when the sash is locked, avoiding interference and using magnetic forces for control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid counter bearing with a protruding stop is used, then the locking mechanism achieves high stability, but the stop causes disruption especially in floor doors and variable tolerances lead to inconsistent locking overlap

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of locking mechanismVSAvoiddisruption in door operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stop is made movable within the counter bearing housing, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position between protruding and retracted states based on door position, rather than being rigidly fixed in a protruding position

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a rigid protruding stop is used, then the locking element can engage with high stability, but the protruding stop interferes with door operation especially when open and causes variable overlap due to tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking engagement reliabilityVSAvoidinterference with door operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stop moves to a retracted position when the door is open to avoid interference, and only protrudes when the door is in the locked position, making the interference harmful factor conditional rather than constant

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stop is extracted from a rigid fixed position and made separable/movable within the counter bearing housing, allowing it to be positioned only when needed for locking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If magnets are arranged symmetrically around the center of gravity of the stop element, then the stop element achieves high stability and tilting is prevented, but the control mechanism becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of stop elementVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

While magnets are symmetrically arranged around the center of gravity for stability, the control is achieved through the asymmetric positioning of magnets relative to the locking element, creating a simple magnetic attraction control mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

4Reliability

If the stop element is made wider than the locking element, then the stop can engage reliably, but the control means for moving the stop become simpler through lateral magnet arrangement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking engagement reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol means complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The magnets are arranged laterally next to the locking element rather than directly opposite, using a different spatial dimension to achieve simple magnetic control of the stop movement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This design minimizes protrusion, enhances mobility, and simplifies control mechanisms, ensuring stable and precise locking without disrupting the door's operation, even when open, by allowing the stop to retract and supporting high forces through guide pins and grooves.

Implementation Method 1

the stop and a component to be arranged opposite the stop on the sash or frame are magnetically designed. With this design, the stop is moved automatically by magnetic force when the sash is in a predetermined position relative to the frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

In the simplest case, the force of gravity acting on the stop serves as the retraction mechanism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce of gravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3715564B1Lock of an espagnolette fitting
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 WINKHAUS
  • EP3715564B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3715564B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3715564B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

In a locking mechanism (6, 7) of a locking bar fitting (3), both a locking element (8) and a stop (20) opposite the locking element (8) can be moved from a recessed unlocking position to a protruding locking position. The movement of the stop (20) is effected by a magnet (11, 12) arranged next to the locking element (8). The stop (20) is arranged on a stop element (10) that is slidably guided in a base body (13).