Spring-Actuated Locking Pin for Hazardous Material Cabinets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety cabinets for hazardous materials often face issues with unauthorized access and forgotten locking, due to the reliance on physical keys which can be lost or overlooked.
Innovation Solution
A spring-actuated locking pin mechanism that automatically transitions between unlocked and locked positions based on a preselectable time or specific point in time, operated without a physical key, using a control unit with a timer and access control system for secure and convenient locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a key-based locking mechanism is used for the cabinet door, then the locking function is simple and reliable, but the risk of unauthorized access increases and operators may forget to lock the cabinet
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element automatically returns to the locked position after a predetermined time period without requiring manual intervention. The spring mechanism provides self-service by automatically resetting the locking element to its locked state, eliminating the need for operators to remember to lock the cabinet and preventing unauthorized access while maintaining simple key-based operation for legitimate access.
2Device complexity
If manual key operation is required for locking, then the locking mechanism is simple, but operational convenience decreases and human error increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically returning the locking element to the locked position before any potential unauthorized access can occur. The predetermined time period ensures the cabinet is locked again automatically, eliminating the need for operators to manually lock the cabinet after use, thus improving operational convenience without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the locking element remains unlocked for extended periods, then access convenience is improved, but security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element operates with periodic action by automatically returning to the locked position after a predetermined time period. This periodic resetting ensures that even if the cabinet door remains open for access, the locking element will automatically re-engage after the specified time, maintaining security reliability while allowing temporary access convenience during legitimate operations.
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
Ensures the cabinet door is consistently locked or unlocked at predetermined times, enhancing security and simplifying operations by eliminating the need for manual key operation, thus reducing the risk of unauthorized access and forgotten lockings.
Implementation Method 1
the locking element is designed as a locking pin which is acted upon by a spring, the locking pin assuming its unlocking position against the force of the spring and being transferred to the locking position with the force of the spring
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a safety cabinet, in particular a hazardous material cabinet, for storing preferably liquid hazardous materials, having a cabinet body (3), further having at least one cabinet door (4), and at least one latching element (8) for the cabinet door (4). According to the invention, the latching element (8) is returned to the latched position after having switched to the unlatched position thereof, taking a preselectable time delay and/or a preselectable point in time into consideration.