Turnstile Locking Unit Sandwich Construction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional turnstile systems are often subjected to significant stress and manipulation attempts, leading to structural issues such as excessive weight and high production costs, which complicates their operation and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A locking unit with a sandwich construction using interposed spacers between base and bearing plates, combined with a two-stage switching disk and pivotably mounted pawls, provides enhanced torsional rigidity and control over the turnstile system while reducing material usage and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If locking units are designed with massive steel plates or aluminum milling plates to ensure torsional rigidity, then the structural strength and resistance to manipulation attempts are improved, but the weight of the locking unit increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorsional rigidityVSAvoidweight of locking unit
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The locking unit is segmented into multiple thin-walled profile elements (U-profiles and C-profiles) arranged in a triangular configuration, replacing the conventional single massive plate structure. This segmentation maintains torsional rigidity through the geometric arrangement and interconnection of lighter profile elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking unit employs a composite structure combining multiple aluminum or steel profile elements with different cross-sectional geometries (U-profiles and C-profiles) arranged in a triangular configuration. This composite arrangement achieves high torsional rigidity-to-weight ratio by leveraging the geometric configuration rather than relying on material mass alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If locking units are designed with massive structure to resist manipulation attempts, then the reliability under stress is improved, but the production costs increase due to material consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to manipulationVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The locking unit is divided into multiple standardized profile elements that can be manufactured separately and assembled together, reducing material waste and production complexity compared to manufacturing a single large solid plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design changes the structural parameters from solid plate geometry to thin-walled profile geometry, optimizing the strength-to-material-cost ratio by using less material in a more efficient configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If locking units are designed with massive elements to ensure structural integrity, then the stability under load is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased weight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidease of switching
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking unit uses multiple lightweight profile elements instead of a single heavy component, reducing the overall mass that the actuator must move while maintaining structural integrity through the distributed configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The composite profile structure achieves high structural integrity with reduced mass, making the locking unit easier to actuate while maintaining resistance to manipulation attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Strength

If conventional solid plate structures are used for locking units, then the torsional rigidity is achieved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for massive superstructure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorsional rigidityVSAvoidsuperstructure massiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking unit is segmented into a triangular arrangement of profile elements, achieving torsional rigidity through geometric configuration rather than requiring a massive solid structure, thereby simplifying the overall superstructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2129857B1Locking unit for a turnstile system
Publication Date: 2016.08.17 KABA GALLENSCHUTZ
  • EP2129857B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2129857B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2129857B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a turnstile system comprising a locking unit (1) which is associated with the turnstile system in a rotationally fixed manner and allows the turnstile system to be incrementally moved with the help of corresponding locking members and thus access to be controlled to an area that is secured by means of the turnstile system. According to the invention, such a locking unit (1) is advantageously produced as a sandwich structure by screwing together several plates (2, 4, 6) and placing spacers (5) therebetween rather than using a massive base plate. In an advantageous embodiment, the pawls (13, 13') that cooperate with a switching disk (3) can be differently hinged to obtain different functionalities and a different currentless behavior in accordance with the application. The invention is used in access control devices.