Prestressed Spring Barrier Opening System for Emergency Rescue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vertical acting barriers are difficult to open quickly in emergencies, posing challenges for safe evacuation and rescue, especially for vulnerable individuals and rescue personnel, as they require manual strength and prior knowledge, and can result in property damage and delayed rescue due to the need for forced entry.
Innovation Solution
A barrier opening system incorporating a prestressed spring mechanism, a brake release mechanism, and a key security system that allows authorized personnel to open the barrier using a master key or emergency button, even without power, ensuring rapid access and evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a conventional vertical acting barrier with brake mechanism and barrier bolt device is used, then the barrier can be securely locked during normal operation, but in case of emergency the barrier cannot be opened quickly without manual operation or power supply
Solution Approach 1:
A prestressed spring mechanism is pre-loaded during normal barrier operation to accumulate elastic potential energy. In emergency situations, this pre-stored energy automatically activates to rapidly open the barrier without requiring manual intervention or power supply, thus resolving the contradiction between secure locking and rapid emergency opening
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier system incorporates an automatic emergency opening function where the prestressed spring self-activates upon detection of emergency conditions (power failure or manual trigger), eliminating the need for human strength or complex manual operations to open the barrier, making it accessible to all individuals regardless of physical capability
2Reliability
If manual operation mode is used to open the barrier in power outage, then the barrier can be opened without electricity, but the operation becomes difficult for elderly, disabled, pregnant women, and children
Solution Approach 1:
The prestressed spring is pre-charged during normal operation to store sufficient elastic energy that can automatically overcome the barrier's weight and friction forces in emergency situations, eliminating the need for manual strength and making the system reliable for all users including vulnerable populations
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service emergency opening where the prestressed spring automatically activates upon power failure or trigger activation, requiring no human physical effort beyond simple trigger activation, thus ensuring reliability while maintaining ease of operation for all individuals
3Productivity
If rescue personnel need to enter the building in emergency, then they can provide assistance, but they have to break through the barrier by force causing property damage and rescue delay
Solution Approach 1:
The prestressed spring mechanism is pre-loaded during normal operation to accumulate sufficient elastic energy that can rapidly open the barrier when activated by rescue personnel using a master key or emergency trigger, eliminating the need for forced entry and preventing property damage while maintaining high rescue efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
A master key mechanism serves as an intermediary control device that allows rescue personnel to activate the prestressed spring mechanism from outside the barrier, providing a non-destructive means of entry that maintains both rescue efficiency and property protection
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a master key system is implemented for rescue personnel, then they can open the barrier without breaking through, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master key mechanism integrates multiple functions: it serves as both a security control device for authorized access and an emergency activation trigger for the prestressed spring mechanism, allowing the same hardware to prevent property damage during both routine and emergency situations without requiring separate systems
Solution Approach 2:
The master key acts as a simple intermediary control element that interfaces with the existing prestressed spring mechanism, providing an external activation method that doesn't require complex electronic systems or additional mechanical components, thus minimizing system complexity while achieving property protection
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 rapid opening of barriers by trapped individuals and rescue personnel without physical strength or prior knowledge, reducing property damage and facilitating timely rescue by utilizing the restoring force of a prestressed spring and a backup power system.
Implementation Method 1
a prestressed spring, preloaded on the winding shaft for accumulating a restoring force when the barrier is unwound using the winding shaft
Implementation Method 2
a brake mechanism maintains in a brake state when an electric motor does not rotate
Data Source
AI summary
A barrier opening system for emergency escape and rescue comprises a vertical acting barrier device, an escape device, and a rescue device, the vertical acting barrier device winds a barrier via a winding shaft; a prestressed spring preloaded on the winding shaft for storing a restoring force when the barrier is unwound by the winding shaft; a brake mechanism for stopping the winding shaft from rotating; a brake release mechanism for releasing the winding shaft under an abnormal condition; an escape device comprising an identification unit and a master key for activating the brake release mechanism; the identification unit identifies a rescue personnel's identity before allowing the personnel to use the master key to activate the brake release mechanism; when the emergency button and/or the master key activate(s) the brake release mechanism to release the winding shaft, the barrier can be lifted up by the restoring force.