Rigid Locking Unit for Sliding Doors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking devices for sliding wall or sliding door systems are costly to produce and occupy a large amount of space due to complex mechanical components, making them inefficient for automatic locking and unlocking.
Innovation Solution
A compact locking device with a rigid locking unit that combines the locking element and plunger, guided obliquely on the base body, eliminating the need for separate guides and complex transmission components, allowing for direct conversion of plunger movement into locking element movement, and incorporating a spring device for automatic unlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate guides and complex transmission components (articulated levers, toothed components) are used to convert plunger movement into locking element movement, then the locking device achieves reliable automatic locking, but the production cost increases and the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the plunger and locking element into a single rigid locking unit that moves as one piece. This merging eliminates the need for separate guides and complex transmission components, directly resolving the contradiction by reducing device complexity while maintaining the automatic locking function through the integrated unit's oblique movement on the base body
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate transmission components (articulated levers, toothed components) from the locking mechanism. By removing these complex elements and directly guiding the integrated locking unit on oblique rails, the solution achieves automatic locking with significantly reduced device complexity and lower production costs
2Manufacturing precision
If separate guides for plunger and locking element are provided, then the locking device achieves proper movement control, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the plunger and locking element into a single rigid unit, eliminating the need for separate guides. This integration maintains movement control precision through the oblique guidance rails while significantly simplifying manufacturing and reducing production costs
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid locking unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the plunger (being acted upon) and the locking element (extending to lock), while also incorporating the deflection mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate guiding components, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining precise movement control
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex transmission components (articulated levers, toothed mechanisms) are used to convert horizontal plunger movement into vertical locking element movement, then the locking device achieves proper force deflection, but the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the movement conversion function directly into the rigid locking unit's geometry and its interaction with the oblique guide rails. The unit's rigid structure and oblique guidance path inherently perform the force deflection from horizontal to vertical movement without requiring additional space-consuming transmission components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the oblique dimension of the guide rails to achieve movement conversion. By guiding the rigid locking unit along oblique rails at an angle to the closing direction, the system converts horizontal plunger movement into vertical locking element movement through geometric constraints rather than mechanical transmission, significantly reducing the space required
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 robust, easy-to-manufacture, and cost-effective automatic locking device that simplifies the locking mechanism, reducing production costs and space usage while ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a spring device, in particular a compression spring, which can be compressed by the locking unit in the base body and thereby brings about an automatic retracting movement of the locking element
Implementation Method 2
By displacing the locking unit along an incline, a combination of plunger movement and locking element movement can be brought about, which in relation to the base body contains both a horizontal retracting movement component of the plunger and a vertical extending movement component of the locking element
Data Source
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AI summary
A locking device (17) for a sliding wall or sliding door system includes a base body (19) configured for being fixed on a wing (11); a locking element (23) movable from the base body (19) along a closing direction (S); a tappet (25) loaded transversely to the closing direction (S); and a deflection device (27) for causing the locking element (23) together with moving components to move outwards along the closing direction (S) when the tappet (25) is loaded transversely to the closing direction (S). The locking element (23) and the plunger (25) are combined to form a rigid locking unit (22) which is positively guided at an angle to the closing direction (S) displaceable on the base body (19), thereby forming the deflection device (27).