Retractable Bar Door Reinforcement Against Vehicle Ram Attacks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current protection measures for technical rooms, such as those housing ATMs, are inadequate against vehicle-ram attacks and do not effectively secure security guards during operations, as they rely on spaced protection methods that may not be feasible in all cases and reduce alarm system effectiveness when the room is occupied.

Innovation Solution

A reinforcement device for access doors that includes a retractable bar fixed to the door leaf, control means to deploy or retract the bar, distribution plates on the door frame to distribute attack forces, and damping elements to mitigate force transmission, allowing the bar to deflect forces towards the door frame or wall, enhancing resistance to vehicle-ram attacks while being integrated with locking and unlocking mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If spaced protection measures (cylindrical posts) are installed in front of the access, then the resistance to vehicle-ram attacks is improved, but the adaptability to different installation locations deteriorates (not feasible where spaced protection is not possible)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to vehicle-ram attacksVSAvoidadaptability to different installation locations
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a retractable bar as an intermediary element between the door leaf and the ground. This bar can be deployed to deflect attack forces toward the door frame or wall, serving as a mediator that transfers harmful forces away from the vulnerable door leaf. The bar acts as a temporary structural intermediary that only engages during attacks, resolving the contradiction by providing strength when needed without permanently occupying space that would limit adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a retractable bar that can dynamically change its state between deployed and retracted positions. When deployed, it provides enhanced resistance to vehicle-ram attacks by deflecting forces toward the frame or wall. When retracted, it does not interfere with normal door operation or occupy space that would limit installation adaptability. This dynamic characteristic allows the system to adapt to different operational states and installation locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the door is heavily closed and secured when the technical room is occupied, then the protection of security guards is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates (access operations become more difficult)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of security guardsVSAvoidease of door operation during access
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retractable bar provides dynamic protection that adapts to operational needs. During normal access operations, the bar remains retracted, allowing easy door operation and maintaining reliability for security guards. During vehicle-ram attacks, the bar deploys automatically or manually to deflect forces away from the door leaf, enhancing protection without interfering with routine operations. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between heavy security and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The retractable bar provides preliminary anti-action by being positioned to deflect attack forces before they can directly impact the door leaf. The bar is pre-configured in a position that will automatically engage during an attack, creating a preliminary defensive barrier that redirects forces toward the more robust door frame or wall structure, thereby protecting security guards without requiring heavy permanent securing measures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Ease of operation

If the alarm system is shutdown when the conveyor enters the technical room, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of protection deteriorates (protection is reduced)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of conveyor operationsVSAvoidreliability of alarm system protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retractable bar provides dynamic physical protection that operates independently of the alarm system's operational state. When the conveyor enters and the alarm is shutdown for ease of operation, the retractable bar remains in place providing continuous passive structural protection against vehicle-ram attacks. The bar's protective function is not dependent on active alarm systems, thereby maintaining reliability of protection even when the alarm is temporarily disabled during access operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2305931B1Device for reinforcement of the locking of a door for a protected space
Publication Date: 2013.11.06 GUNNEBO BAZANCOURT
  • EP2305931B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2305931B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2305931B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a reinforcement device for access to a protected room, the access comprising a door (2) with a frame (21) disposed in a wall (1) of the room and with a leaf (22) which, depending on its open or closed position, allows or prevents a person from accessing the room. The device includes a retractable bar (3) adapted to be fixed to the leaf (22) of the door (2) and control means (4) adapted to alternately position the bar (3) in an extended length, at which point it prevents, by interaction with an element (21) of the access other than the leaf (22) of the door, the opening of the door (2), or in a retracted length, at which point it allows the door (2) to be opened. The invention also relates to access to a protected room comprising such a reinforcement device.