Safety Door Central Release Device Spring Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety door systems, both failsafe and non-failsafe, face inefficiencies in automatically closing the door during power disruptions, particularly when the disruption is not due to a fire, leading to potential safety hazards and user inconvenience.

Innovation Solution

A central release device with a cord, electromagnet, crank arms, and spring mechanism that automatically closes the safety door upon power disruption, ensuring immediate action regardless of the cause, and enhances fire safety by allowing the door to close and prevent smoke and flames from spreading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a failsafe system is used where the brake is released immediately when power supply is disrupted, then fire safety is improved as the safety door closes automatically, but user convenience deteriorates as the door cannot be used under normal circumstances when power is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire safetyVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional electromagnetic brake system with a mechanical spring-based release mechanism. The spring accumulates potential energy and mechanically releases the brake when the electromagnet loses power, eliminating dependence on standby power systems while ensuring automatic door closure for fire safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using power to maintain the braking state (non-failsafe) or requiring standby power to release the brake (traditional failsafe), the invention inverts the approach by using a spring mechanism that is naturally compressed during normal operation and automatically releases when power is lost, achieving failsafe behavior without compromising normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If a non-failsafe system is used where the brake remains engaged during power disruption, then user convenience is maintained as the door can still be opened, but fire safety deteriorates as the door does not close automatically to prevent smoke and flame spread

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidfire safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electromagnetic brake system with a mechanical spring-based release mechanism. The spring accumulates potential energy and mechanically releases the brake when the electromagnet loses power, eliminating dependence on standby power systems while ensuring automatic door closure for fire safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring mechanism serves itself by automatically converting stored potential energy into mechanical work to release the brake when power is lost. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external standby power sources or complex control systems, ensuring reliable automatic door closure for fire safety while maintaining normal operation during powered states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If standby power (capacitor or battery) is used to release the brake during fire detection, then fire safety is improved as the door can close, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to additional failure points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire safetyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the standby power system (capacitor or battery) from the device. By using a spring mechanism that stores mechanical energy instead of electrical energy, the invention removes the complex power management subsystem while maintaining the critical fire safety function of automatic door closure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the electromagnetic brake system with a mechanical spring-based release mechanism. The spring accumulates potential energy and mechanically releases the brake when the electromagnet loses power, eliminating dependence on standby power systems while ensuring automatic door closure for fire safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If fusible links are used to mechanically cut off power supply under high temperature, then fire safety is improved as the door closes automatically, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to additional failure points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire safetyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the fusible links from the device. By using a spring mechanism that automatically releases when power is lost, the invention removes the high-temperature activation mechanism while maintaining the critical fire safety function, thereby reducing device complexity and potential failure points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring mechanism serves itself by automatically converting stored potential energy into mechanical work to release the brake when power is lost. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external standby power sources or complex control systems, ensuring reliable automatic door closure for fire safety while maintaining normal operation during powered states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 device effectively modifies non-failsafe safety doors to failsafe models, ensuring immediate closure during power disruptions and improved fire safety without user inconvenience, addressing the limitations of existing systems.

Implementation Method 1

an electromagnet (33) attached on an opposite side of the casing, wherein the electromagnet is switched on under ordinary circumstances

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnet: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

The sliding bar is joined to a spring with spring potential energy, and once this spring potential energy is released, the crank arms with the grip will be released

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring potential energy: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS7293805B1Safety door central release device

Publication Date: 2007.11.13 HSIEH CHUNG HSIEN

AI summary

This invention relates to a type of safety door central release device which can be used to close the safety door automatically when electric power is disrupted. It comprises a cord that is tied to a mechanism having potential energy on one end, and extended to a far distance on the other end; a pair of crank arms of which one end molded as a grip and gripping the cord, and the other end is connected to a sliding bar, having potential energy which assists the grip in release the cord. When electric power is supplied, the sliding bar will be attracted to an electromagnet. As a result, while electric power is disrupted, the release device can immediately release the cord. Due to release of the cord, a brake for a door operator is released by means of the mechanism such that the safety door slides down and then it is closed.