Actuated Sliding Door Assembly for Stable Slide-to-Swing Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding door assemblies face challenges such as difficulty in operation due to magnetic forces that are hard to overcome for individuals with physical strength limitations, premature swinging open, and require frequent maintenance and repairs.
Innovation Solution
A sliding door assembly with electronic actuators and power supply that allows sliding doors to transition between sliding and swinging configurations, using actuators to extend and retract components for smooth operation and alignment, and includes an electronic door control switch for precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If magnets are used to hold sliding doors adjacent to one another, then the doors remain securely positioned, but the magnetic force is difficult to overcome for operators with physical strength challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly dynamically switches between sliding and swinging configurations based on operational needs. The system uses linear actuators to extend or retract shoot bolts and hinge pins, enabling the doors to transition between modes rather than being fixed in one configuration, thus adapting to different operational requirements and reducing the need for high magnetic holding forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely magnetic holding mechanism with a hybrid system that includes linear actuators, shoot bolts, and hinge pins. These mechanical components work together to hold doors in position, providing more controllable and operable force characteristics compared to magnetic fields alone, making it easier for operators to overcome the holding force when needed.
2Reliability
If sliding doors are held together by magnetic force, then the doors remain aligned, but they may swing open prematurely at undesired locations
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates electronic door control switches that provide feedback on door position and configuration state. This feedback enables the control system to monitor when doors are in the sliding configuration and prevent premature swinging by de-energizing actuators or engaging mechanical constraints when appropriate, thus eliminating the harmful effect of unintended door movement.
Solution Approach 2:
Before allowing door movement, the system performs preliminary actions by extending shoot bolts and retracting hinge pins to establish proper mechanical constraints. This preliminary configuration ensures that doors can only swing open at the correct location when intended, preventing premature or undesired swinging by pre-establishing the proper mechanical state.
3Adaptability or versatility
If prior art sliding door assemblies are designed with complex mechanisms, then they achieve functional requirements, but they become cumbersome and require frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is segmented into distinct functional modules: sliding doors, swing doors, linear actuators, shoot bolts, hinge pins, and control switches. Each module can be independently maintained or replaced, reducing the overall maintenance burden compared to complex integrated mechanisms. The segmentation allows for easier diagnostic and repair operations while maintaining configuration flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates electronic control switches and actuators that can be controlled through electronic signals rather than requiring manual intervention for routine operations. The electronic control system can automatically manage door configurations, reducing the need for manual adjustment and maintenance, thus improving ease of repair while maintaining adaptability.
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
Enables easy operation for individuals with varying strength levels, prevents premature swinging, and reduces maintenance needs by ensuring smooth transitions between sliding and swinging modes.
Implementation Method 1
an upper track shoot bolt linear actuator for extending and retracting a shoot bolt, a upper track hinge pin linear actuator for extending and retracting a hinge pin, a lower track lift wheel linear actuator for extending and retracting a lift wheel assembly
Implementation Method 2
a power supply for providing power to the electronic door control switch, the shoot bolt linear actuator, the hinge pin linear actuator and the lift wheel linear actuator
Implementation Method 3
a rigidly attached hinge wheel assembly having rotatably connected hinge wheels
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding door assembly. The sliding door assembly includes a door frame having an upper track and a lower track. A swing door is mounted to the door frame and multiple sliding doors are also mounted to the frame. The sliding doors slide when they are in a sliding configuration and also swing open and closed when they are in a swing configuration. Each sliding door includes an electronic door control switch, an upper track shoot bolt linear actuator for extending and retracting a shoot bolt, a upper track hinge pin linear actuator for extending and retracting a hinge pin, a lower track lift wheel linear actuator for extending and retracting a lift wheel assembly, a rigidly attached hinge wheel assembly having rotatably connected hinge wheels, and a power supply for providing power to the electronic door control switch, the shoot bolt linear actuator, the hinge pin linear actuator and the lift wheel linear actuator. When the upper track shoot bolt and the lower track lift wheel assembly are extended and the upper hinge pin is retracted, then the sliding door assembly is in a sliding configuration. When the upper track shoot bolt and lower track lift wheel assembly are retracted and the upper hinge pin is extended, then the sliding door assembly is a swing configuration.