Well Closing Device Locking Mechanism Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing well closing devices face challenges in ensuring high safety and robustness against unauthorized access, with complex locking mechanisms that are difficult to maintain and require specific tools, and are not suitable for various operational and environmental conditions.

Innovation Solution

A closing device with a stationary frame and a removable cover featuring a locking mechanism with perpendicular bolts, a rotatable motion drive rotor integrated with the cover, and enabling/disabling members that include both manual and servocontrolled options, allowing for secure operation and easy maintenance, with a coaxial projection and cylindrical cup design for enhanced locking and actuation control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex locking mechanism with multiple bolts and enabling/disabling members is used, then high safety and robustness against unauthorized access is achieved, but device complexity and difficulty of maintenance increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against unauthorized accessVSAvoidcomplexity of locking mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is divided into modular components: a rotor with radially distributed bolts, a frame with corresponding engagement seats, and separable enabling/disabling members. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured, inspected, and maintained, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high security through the coordinated interaction of multiple segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotor serves multiple functions: it simultaneously positions multiple bolts, provides the locking action, and interfaces with both enabling and disabling members. The bolts perform dual functions of both locking the cover and indicating the locked state through their engagement with visible seats. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If specific tools and coded control means are required for actuation, then high security against unauthorized operation is achieved, but ease of operation and maintenance difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against unauthorized operationVSAvoidease of actuation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor features an asymmetric coded control interface with specific shaped openings that only accept corresponding coded actuating tools. This asymmetric design ensures that only authorized personnel with the correct coded tool can manipulate the locking mechanism, providing high security. The asymmetric geometry prevents unauthorized tools from engaging the rotor, while the authorized tool can easily perform the required rotation to actuate the locks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If bolts are displaced radially outwardly to engage seats, then secure locking is achieved, but the movement path complexity and mechanism complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure lockingVSAvoidmovement path complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the bolts follow complex curved paths to engage the seats, the design inverts the approach: the bolts move in simple straight radial lines outward from the rotor center, while the engagement seats are positioned along these radial paths. This inversion simplifies the bolt movement mechanism while maintaining secure locking, as the radial motion is naturally provided by the rotor's rotation and bolt displacement without requiring complex guide paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3894636B1Closing device for wells or the like
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 DSG SRL
  • EP3894636B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3894636B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3894636B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Closing device for wells or the like, comprising: a frame intended to be stationary in the mounted condition of the device, which frame delimits a through-slot; a removable closing cover cooperating with said frame and which can alternately be arranged in a closing position of said slot and in. an opening position of said slot, in a position not coinciding thereto, said cover being provided with at least one locking mechanism to the frame in the closing position, the locking mechanism having at least one bolt cooperating with an engagement seat integral with the frame and wherein the locking mechanism is provided in combination with a drive tool of said mechanism, characterized in that further comprising enabling and disabling members of said drive tool for driving said locking mechanism itself and/or of the coupling between the drive tool and the locking mechanism.