Acceleration and deceleration device having low noise movement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing acceleration and deceleration devices for moving objects, such as sliding doors, often produce impact noises during locking and unlocking, leading to noise pollution.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a spring deflection surface that is uniaxially curved, oriented normal to the deceleration stroke direction, which interacts with a tension spring to smoothly guide the driver element between parking and end positions, reducing noise by managing the energy store's discharge and ensuring a jerk-free operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a spring energy storage device is used to move the driver element between parking position and end position, then the movement can be achieved without continuous power supply, but impact noises occur during locking and unlocking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring energy storageVSAvoidimpact noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a damping element that absorbs impact energy before the driver element locks into the parking position or releases from it. The damping element is positioned to engage during the locking/unlocking transition, cushioning the impact between the spring energy storage device and the driver element, thereby preventing impact noise while maintaining the energy storage function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Speed

If the driver element moves quickly between positions, then operation speed is improved, but impact noises and jerky movements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement speedVSAvoidimpact noise and jerk
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by designing the movement of the driver element to occur in controlled stages rather than as a single abrupt motion. The damping element engages periodically during the transition phases (locking and unlocking), creating a rhythm of controlled deceleration that maintains operational speed while eliminating impact noise and jerky movements through repeated cushioning cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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

This solution effectively minimizes noise during the operation of sliding doors by ensuring a controlled and smooth transition between positions, eliminating audible impacts and providing a low-noise acceleration and deceleration process.

Implementation Method 1

A tension spring (121), which loads the driver element (91) in the direction of the end position (82), is mounted as an energy store (121) on the driver element (91) and on the support part (72).

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring energy storage: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a piston of a cylinder-piston unit being movable in a deceleration stroke direction by means of the entrainment element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic/Pneumatic damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3070251B1Acceleration and deceleration device having low noise movement
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 ZIMMER GUNTHER
  • EP3070251B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3070251B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3070251B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to an acceleration and deceleration device with an entrainment element that can be moved from a parking position secured with a non-positive and/or positive fit to an end position while discharging a spring energy store, with a piston of a cylinder-piston unit being movable in a deceleration stroke direction by means of the entrainment element, and a door fitting with such an acceleration and deceleration device and a sliding door with such a door fitting. The entrainment element has a spring deflection surface against which the spring energy store rests at least in the end position. The present invention develops a low-noise acceleration and deceleration device.