Pneumatic Door Assist with Hydraulic Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy vehicle doors, especially in military or armored vehicles, tend to close on their own, making ingress and egress difficult and requiring significant operator effort to hold the door open, which can lead to accidents and mechanical damage.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic door assist system with a hydraulic locking actuator that uses a door handle to control pneumatic and hydraulic actuators to lock the door in an open position, allowing for easy operation with limited human effort and preventing accidental closure, even in the absence of electrical power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electrically operated solenoids and linear actuators are used for door assist systems, then the door can be opened and closed with minimal operator effort, but the system requires electrical power and may fail when the electronic system is non-functional
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrically operated solenoids and linear actuators with a pneumatic actuator that uses compressed air to move the door. The pneumatic actuator includes a piston and rod assembly that converts pneumatic pressure into mechanical motion to open and close the door, eliminating dependency on electrical power while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the energy source parameter from electrical to pneumatic. By using compressed air stored in the vehicle's pneumatic system (which operates independently of the electrical system), the door assist mechanism maintains functionality even when electrical power is unavailable, thus improving reliability
2Ease of operation
If heavy doors are allowed to move freely between open and closed positions, then the door can close automatically, but the operator cannot maintain the door in an open position without continuous manual support
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a slide block with locking surfaces that can be positioned at various locations along the actuator rod's travel path. When the door reaches the desired open position, the slide block automatically locks into place using gravity and mechanical engagement, holding the door open without requiring continuous operator support. This preliminary positioning and locking action eliminates the need for continuous manual support
Solution Approach 2:
The slide block mechanism is designed to automatically lock the door in the open position through gravitational force and mechanical engagement of locking surfaces. The system uses its own weight and the actuator's motion to achieve automatic locking, eliminating the need for additional active components or continuous operator intervention to maintain the door open position
3Productivity
If the door is designed to close automatically, then the door can return to closed position without operator effort, but the door may close unexpectedly and strike the operator during ingress and egress
Solution Approach 1:
The slide block locking mechanism prevents the door from closing automatically by mechanically blocking the actuator rod's motion. The locking surfaces engage to counteract the gravitational force that would cause the door to close, holding the door securely in the open position until the operator intentionally releases the lock. This preliminary anti-action eliminates the risk of unexpected door closure and operator injury
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides mechanical feedback through the slide block's engagement with the actuator rod at specific positions. When the door reaches the desired open position, the slide block automatically engages the locking surfaces, providing tactile and mechanical feedback that confirms the door is secured. This feedback mechanism prevents accidental closure by requiring deliberate operator action to disengage the lock
4Reliability
If the door assist system operates without electrical power, then the system is more reliable in electronic failures, but the control precision and positioning accuracy may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic actuator uses compressed air pressure to position the door with sufficient accuracy for practical purposes. By controlling the pneumatic pressure and the slide block's engagement point on the actuator rod, the system achieves reliable door positioning without requiring electrical sensors or actuators, maintaining both reliability and adequate positioning precision
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
Enables safe and effortless door operation with reduced manual effort, preventing accidental closure and minimizing mechanical stress on hinges and latches, while remaining functional even without electrical power.
Implementation Method 1
A pneumatic actuator having an actuator rod, where the actuator rod is extendable when the door handle is in the first operable position and the actuator rod is retractable when the door handle is in the second operable position
Implementation Method 2
A lock includes a door link connecting the slide block to the vehicle frame. A hydraulic locking actuator with a hydraulic rod extendable and retractable with the slide block
Data Source
AI summary
A lock (57) for a door assist system (12) for use on a vehicle door (10) and connected to a vehicle to lock the door into an open position. The door assist system includes a door handle (40) having a first operable position, a second operable position and a released position, a pneumatic actuator (28) having an actuator rod (32), where the actuator rod is extendable when the door handle is in the first operable position and the actuator rod is retractable when the door handle is in the second operable position. The door assist system also includes a slide block (34) displaceable by the actuator rod of the pneumatic actuator. The slide block (34) also includes a door link (54) connecting the slide block (34) to the vehicle frame. As the slide block is displaced away from the pneumatic actuator (28), the door link opens the door (10) with respect to the vehicle. The lock also includes a hydraulic locking actuator (58) with a hydraulic rod (66) extendable and retractable with the slide block (34). When the door handle (40) is in the released position, the hydraulic rod (66) is prevented from extension and retraction and locks the slide block (34) at the current location, preventing opening or closing of the door (10).