Actuator Guide Element Using Rolling and Sliding Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door and window drive systems suffer from large dimensions, noise, and wear due to the interaction of spring tongues with guide rails, which is undesirable for smooth operation.
Innovation Solution
A guide element with at least one rolling element and one sliding element, where the contact surfaces are arranged on different legs of the guide rail, allowing for almost play-free guidance and potentially using elastic materials to minimize noise and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If spring tongues are used in the guide element to eliminate lateral play, then lateral guidance is improved, but the device occupies relatively large space and causes noise and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the spring tongue mechanical system with a rolling element (ball bearing) system. The rolling element runs between the guide rail legs, providing lateral guidance through rolling contact rather than sliding contact. This substitution eliminates the noise and wear associated with spring tongues while maintaining play-free lateral guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spherical rolling element (ball) into the guide rail system. The spherical shape allows the element to roll between the guide rail legs, converting sliding friction into rolling friction. This curvature-based solution provides smooth lateral guidance with minimal noise and wear compared to the flat spring tongue design.
2Stability of the object's composition
If spring tongues are used in the guide element, then lateral play is eliminated, but the guide element takes up relatively large space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the bulky spring tongue mechanism with a compact rolling element system. The ball bearing occupies minimal space while providing equivalent or superior lateral guidance functionality. This substitution significantly reduces the volume required for the guide element.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter of the guidance system from elastic deformation (spring tongues) to rolling motion (ball element). This parameter change enables a more compact design, as rolling elements require minimal space to maintain play-free lateral guidance compared to the extended spring tongue structure.
3Volume of moving object
If rolling elements and sliding elements are used with separate contact surfaces on different legs, then play-free guidance is achieved with compact dimensions, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the guidance functions into distinct components: rolling elements handle lateral guidance on one leg while sliding elements handle lateral guidance on the opposite leg. This extraction of functions into separate contact surfaces on different legs allows for modular manufacturing and assembly, managing precision requirements through functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail is segmented into multiple contact surfaces on different legs, with different types of contact elements (rolling and sliding) assigned to different segments. This segmentation distributes the precision requirements across multiple independent contact points rather than requiring all contacts to be precisely aligned simultaneously, making manufacturing more feasible.
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
The solution achieves compact dimensions, low-noise, and low-wear operation by ensuring precise guidance and reducing manufacturing tolerances, thereby enhancing the harmonious movement of door or window leaves.
Implementation Method 1
the rolling element interacts with a contact surface on one leg of the guide rail
Implementation Method 2
The rolling interaction of the rolling element with the contact surface takes up little space and is virtually free of noise and wear
Implementation Method 3
the sliding element interacts with a separate, on another, preferably opposite leg of the guide rail
Data Source
AI summary
A drive for opening and/or closing a movable sash of a door or window is described. The drive has an output shaft which is operatively connected to the sash via a force transmission element, wherein the force transmission element has a guide element which is slidably guided in a guide rail: The guide element has at least one roller element and at least one sliding element, wherein the guide rail has at least two separate contact surfaces for the at least one roller element and the at least one sliding element.