Compact Panic Bar Gearbox Single Bearing Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern door designs require compact panic bar gearboxes to avoid protrusion over frames or glass surfaces, but existing solutions either compromise on size or increase production costs due to material quality and stability demands.

Innovation Solution

A compact gear arrangement with a single bearing point for the shaft, utilizing a bearing block with a single bearing wall and a bearing sleeve to reduce size and friction, while maintaining stability and ease of production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If the gearbox is made compact to avoid protrusion over frames or glass surfaces, then the visual appearance and door operation are improved, but the production costs increase due to higher material quality and stability demands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegearbox sizeVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the second bearing point from the gearbox design, retaining only a single bearing point for shaft support. This reduction in components directly decreases gearbox size and material usage, achieving compact dimensions without requiring premium materials, thus resolving the contradiction between compact size and manufacturing cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating bearing capacity at the single remaining bearing point through optimized structural design of the bearing block and shaft support. The bearing block is designed with reinforced local geometry to handle all necessary loads at this single point, achieving compact overall dimensions while maintaining adequate structural integrity through localized strengthening rather than requiring high-grade materials throughout

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Volume of stationary object

If the gearbox size is reduced to meet modern door design requirements, then the door can open smoothly without jamming, but the transmission components become smaller and require higher material quality to absorb forces and torques

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission volumeVSAvoidmaterial strength requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the second bearing point from the transmission system, reducing the overall transmission volume and component count. This extraction simplifies the structure and reduces material requirements, achieving compact transmission size while the single bearing point is designed to handle all necessary loads

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple functions into the single bearing point and bearing block structure. The bearing block simultaneously provides shaft support, load bearing, and structural anchoring functions that would traditionally be distributed across multiple components. This consolidation reduces transmission volume while maintaining adequate strength through functional integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If two bearing points are used to support the shaft, then the transmission structure is more stable, but the gearbox occupies more space and may protrude over frames or glass surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission stabilityVSAvoidgearbox area
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts one bearing point from the two-bearing-point configuration, leaving only a single bearing point for shaft support. This reduction directly decreases the gearbox area and eliminates protrusion issues, while the bearing block structure is designed to provide adequate stability through optimized geometry and load distribution at the single remaining bearing point

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent compensates for the reduced bearing support by optimizing the three-dimensional geometry of the bearing block. The bearing block is designed with extended bearing surfaces and optimized spatial arrangement of support elements, transitioning from a two-dimensional dual-bearing-point layout to a three-dimensionally optimized single-bearing-point structure that maintains stability while reducing area

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

Data Source

PatentEP3018272B1Drive train assembly for a panic bar
Publication Date: 2018.11.07 WILH SCHLECHTENDAHL & SOEHNE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3018272B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3018272B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3018272B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a gear arrangement for a panic bar (1) for a door, comprising a shaft (18) for transmitting torque and a bearing block (14) for shaft support. According to the invention, the shaft (18) is supported in only a single bearing point of the bearing block (14).