Active Sealing System for Door Panel Alignment and Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing systems for panels within frames, such as doors and windows, fail to effectively prevent the transfer of environmental elements like noise, weather, water, and insects, and often compromise structural integrity and security due to inadequate sealing and alignment issues.
Innovation Solution
A combined active sealing system with a plurality of active sealing systems, a seal activation system, and an electronic control system that includes anchors, actuators, and a control module to manage the sealing process, allowing for secure locking and unlocking of panels while maintaining a tight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional weather stripping is used to seal between panels and frame, then some sealing effect is achieved, but the seal is insufficient to effectively prevent transfer of environmental elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic sealing members that can move or adjust their position to maintain effective sealing contact. The sealing system includes movable seals that adapt to panel movement while maintaining sealing pressure, transforming static weather stripping into dynamic sealing components that preserve sealing effectiveness throughout the panel's range of motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the sealing system by using multiple sealing members with different materials, cross-sections, and compliance characteristics. This multi-layered approach with varying material properties (hardness, elasticity, compressibility) creates progressive sealing barriers that effectively block environmental elements while accommodating thermal expansion and contraction.
2Ease of operation
If means are provided to allow panel movement relative to frame, then operational flexibility is improved, but structural integrity and security are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing system into multiple independent sealing members distributed at different locations along the panel-frame interface. Each sealing member handles specific portions of the sealing task, allowing the panel to move freely while the distributed sealing system collectively maintains structural integrity and prevents unauthorized access through any single point.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing members act as intermediary elements between the movable panel and stationary frame. These intermediaries absorb movement forces, maintain alignment, and provide continuous contact pressure without rigidly constraining the panel, thus enabling operational flexibility while preserving structural security through controlled interaction.
3Strength
If means are provided to prevent panel movement for security, then structural integrity is improved, but operational flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system transitions from a static constraint to a dynamic adaptation mechanism. The sealing members are designed to be compliant and movable, automatically adjusting their position and contact pressure based on whether the panel is in use or secured, thus providing security when needed while enabling operation when required without rigid mechanical constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing members perform dual functions automatically: during normal operation, they allow panel movement while maintaining sealing; during security mode, they provide continuous contact pressure to prevent unauthorized access. The system self-adjusts based on operational conditions without requiring external control mechanisms, eliminating the need for separate locking structures.
4Ease of operation
If alignment between frame and panel is disturbed, then ease of operation is improved, but seal quality is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sealing members with varying material parameters (compliance, cross-section area, hardness) that can accommodate misalignment. The progressive sealing approach uses multiple members with different compliance characteristics to compensate for alignment variations, maintaining effective sealing contact even when the panel is not perfectly aligned with the frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system uses composite construction with multiple sealing members made of different materials with complementary properties. This composite approach combines rigid and compliant materials, creating a sealing system that maintains geometric precision while accommodating operational misalignment through material deformation and adaptive contact.
Data Source
AI summary
A combined active sealing system for connecting a panel to a frame of a door/window comprises a plurality of active sealing systems, a seal activation system, and an electronic control system. Each of the plurality of active sealing systems includes an anchor for engaging one of the panel and the frame, and an actuator connected to the anchor and for driving the anchor. In a closed position of the panel relative to the frame, the anchor is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The seal activation system is connected to at least one of the actuators of the plurality of active sealing systems. The electronic control system controls the seal activation system.