Safety Locking Switch Layout for Vertical Door Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety locking apparatuses for industrial machinery and plants are not suitable for up-and-over safety doors, vertically slidable safety doors, and security roller blinds or shutters, as they require a horizontal actuator insertion direction, which increases the size of the apparatus and limits its installation flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A safety locking apparatus with a seat design that allows the actuator to be inserted in multiple directions, including vertically, enabling its use with various types of safety doors and barriers, while maintaining a compact and cost-effective design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the safety switch is arranged horizontally to accommodate up-and-over safety doors, then the apparatus can be used with vertical door movement, but the plan dimensions increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by allowing the actuator to be inserted from multiple directions (frontal, lateral, and vertical) into the seat, rather than being restricted to a single horizontal direction. This enables the safety switch to accommodate various door types including up-and-over doors without increasing plan dimensions, as the vertical insertion direction utilizes the third dimension (height) instead of expanding the horizontal footprint.
2Area of stationary object
If the actuator insertion direction is restricted to horizontal, then the apparatus remains compact, but it cannot be used with up-and-over safety doors, vertically slidable safety doors, and security roller blinds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing the seat with multiple insertion directions (frontal, lateral, and vertical) that can accommodate different actuator orientations. This multi-functional design allows a single compact apparatus to work with various safety door types including hinged doors, sliding doors, up-and-over doors, and roller blinds, eliminating the need for different models for different applications.
3Device complexity
If the seat is located on a front wall or side wall with horizontal insertion, then the design remains simple and compact, but it limits installation flexibility for vertical door configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the seat's functional orientation adaptable rather than fixed. The seat is designed to accept actuators from multiple directions (frontal, lateral, vertical) depending on the installation requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows the same simple compact design to be installed in various orientations to match different door configurations without complicating the fundamental seat structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A safety locking apparatus (1) for a safety door (103) comprising a safety switch (3) and an actuator (5); the safety switch (3) extends along a reference axis (8) and comprises: - a seat (9) adapted to be engaged by the actuator (5) and shaped to allow the insertion of the actuator (5) in one or more insertion directions (d1, d2, d3), which lie on a reference plane (P); and - locking means (10), configured to lock the actuator (5) in the seat (9) or to allow the actuator (5) to be withdrawn from the seat (9) and comprising a locking pin (24) movable orthogonally to the reference plane (P) from and towards an extracted position, in which it is configured to lock the actuator (5) in the seat (9).