Shutter Wing Locking Arm with Concealed Sliding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wing locking devices for shutters require a significant frontal bulk and modify the aesthetics of the door when in the open configuration, necessitating a free space and affecting the door's appearance.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with a movable arm and elastic return mechanism housed within the wing's inner cavity, using a non-circular casing and limit-travel means, which allows the arm to slide and rotate, maintaining the door's aesthetics and requiring minimal installation effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a locking device is applied to the surface of the wing facing the outside environment, then the device can be easily installed and operated, but the device creates a non-negligible frontal bulk that requires free space and modifies the aesthetics of the door
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is extracted from the external surface of the wing and relocated to the inner cavity. The arm mechanism is housed within the wing's internal space, with only the operating lever extending outward. This extraction eliminates the frontal bulk and aesthetic modification while maintaining ease of operation through the external lever.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is nested within the inner cavity of the wing. The arm, spring, and casing are all contained within the wing's internal volume, with the arm sliding within the casing and the entire assembly housed in the cavity. This nesting eliminates external bulk while preserving functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the arm is allowed to slide freely in the casing, then the device can adapt to various wing geometries, but the arm may rotate unintentionally affecting the locking position
Solution Approach 1:
The casing is given a non-circular cross-section that is substantially elliptical. This asymmetric shape prevents rotation of the casing within the circular inner cavity of the wing, ensuring stable positioning. The elliptical cross-section allows the casing to be inserted and fixed without rotating, while still providing adaptability through the sliding arm mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the transverse branch of the arm is made accessible for direct grasping, then the arm can be easily extracted during installation, but the device becomes more complex and less aesthetically pleasing
Solution Approach 1:
An expulsion mechanism with a spring-loaded button is introduced as an intermediary to extract the arm during installation. The button, when compressed, activates a lever system that pushes the arm outward from the casing. This intermediary mechanism provides easy extraction without requiring direct access to the transverse branch, maintaining aesthetic simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The expulsion mechanism is spring-loaded and automatically returns to its ready state after use. The spring-loaded button system provides self-service extraction capability, where the mechanism itself facilitates arm removal without requiring additional tools or complex manual manipulation, while maintaining a clean external appearance.
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 locks the wing in the open configuration while being practically invisible and adaptable to various geometries, preserving the door's appearance and ease of installation.
Implementation Method 1
elastic return means, which act to push the arm towards its retracted position
Data Source
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AI summary
A device for locking a wing, particularly a shutter, in its open configuration, comprises a movable arm (23) including an elongated straight portion (24) and a transverse retaining branch (26) extending from one end of said straight portion (24), a casing (20) fixed to a part (10a) of a frame of the wing (10) which accommodates at least a part of the straight portion (24), in which a through hole (20a) is formed to receive said straight portion (24) in a sliding and rotating manner, and elastic return means (28) of the arm (23) interposed between its straight portion (24) and the casing (20), so that the arm (23) can assume a retracted or extended position with respect to said casing (20) in the plane of the wing (10) and an angled position of approximately 90° with respect to the plane of the wing (10). The casing (20) is fast with a plate member (22) connected to the wing (10) at its lateral edge (10b), against which the transverse branch (26) of the arm (23) abuts in the retracted position, and the straight portion (24) is associated with limit-travel means (30) of its axial sliding.