Mine Door With Reinforcing Structure And Spring-Loaded Hinges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mine doors used in ventilation systems are heavy due to thick sheet metal, increasing costs, and lack the ability to be quickly reversed and self-closing, which are essential for efficient air flow management in mines.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight mine door assembly with a reinforced structure and spring-loaded hinges that allows for easy reversal and self-closing functionality, featuring a rectangular sheet metal door panel with a reinforcing structure and spring-loaded hinges for secure and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thick sheet metal is used to make the mine door, then the door strength is improved, but the door weight and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The door is segmented into a thin sheet metal panel and a separate reinforcing structure with channel sections and cross members that are attached to the panel, allowing the door to achieve high strength through structural design rather than material thickness
Solution Approach 2:
The door combines thin sheet metal with a reinforcing structure made of channel sections and cross members to create a composite construction that achieves high strength-to-weight ratio, eliminating the need for thick solid metal
2Ease of operation
If traditional hinges are used for the mine door, then the door can be mounted on the door frame, but the door cannot be quickly reversed or is not self-closing
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system is made dynamic through spring-loaded mechanisms that automatically adjust to pressure differentials, enabling the door to self-close and be easily reversed by simply moving it to the opposite side of the frame without complex reattachment procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded hinges automatically perform the closing function without manual intervention, and the hinge design allows the door to service its own repositioning by maintaining attachment capability on both sides of the frame simultaneously
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 results in a stronger, lighter, and more cost-effective mine door that can be easily moved between sides of a door frame, ensuring efficient air flow management and reducing labor-intensive repositioning processes.
Implementation Method 1
The spring-loaded hinge comprises a bracket, at least one first fastener on the mine door frame adjacent the first side of the mine door frame, and at least one second fastener on the mine door frame adjacent the second side of the mine door frame. The bracket of the at least one spring-loaded hinge is configured for releasable connection to the at least one first fastener for selectively mounting the mine door on the mine door frame in a first position at the first side of the mine door frame for opening the door in said first direction, and for releasable connection to the at least one second fastener for selectively mounting the mine door on the mine door frame in a second position at the second side of the mine door frame for opening the door in said second direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A reinforced lightweight mine door for installation in a mine passageway. The mine door includes a generally rectangular sheet metal door panel having four sides and four corners, and a reinforcing structure projecting from a face of the door panel. The reinforcing structure has a central section and a plurality of channel sections extending from the central section toward respective sides or corners of the door panel. A mine door including at least one hinge arrangement having unique reversibility features is also disclosed.