Adjustable Carriage Inclined Coupling Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable carriages for separating elements, such as glass plates, face issues with undesirable displacement and torque during height adjustment, leading to potential material stress and detachment from rail elements under sudden forces.
Innovation Solution
A carriage design with a coupling part having inclined coupling surfaces allows height adjustment without displacing the carriage body, maintaining the carriage's position within the rail and avoiding torques, while a retraction device enables compact integration within the rail's cross-section for precise height and alignment adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the carriage body is moved vertically to adjust the height of the separating element, then the separating element can be adjusted in height, but the carriage body is also displaced horizontally in the direction of travel
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage is divided into two independent parts: a carriage body that remains stationary in the running rail, and a mounting body that carries the separating element. The mounting body can be adjusted vertically relative to the carriage body through the coupling part with inclined surfaces, while the carriage body itself does not move horizontally. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing height adjustment without displacing the carriage body in the running direction.
2Manufacturing precision
If a buffer device is connected to the carriage body to form an end stop, then the separating element can be stopped at the desired position, but the buffer device must be displaced along the running rail when the carriage is adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer device is connected to the mounting body rather than the carriage body, so it moves vertically with the mounting body when the separating element height is adjusted. The carriage body remains stationary and does not require readjustment of the buffer device position along the running rail. This resolves the contradiction by making the buffer device position independent of horizontal displacement.
3Manufacturing precision
If the carriage body is displaced vertically to adjust height, then the separating element height can be changed, but undesired torque acts on the separating element in the coupling area
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling part uses inclined surfaces that convert vertical movement of the mounting body into horizontal displacement of the coupling part itself, rather than directly displacing the carriage body vertically. This dimensional transformation allows height adjustment while maintaining the carriage body's position and avoiding torque in the coupling area between the separating element and carriage.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the carriage is designed to allow height adjustment, then the separating element can be positioned at selectable heights, but the carriage may become detached from the rail elements if forces act suddenly on the separating element
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage body remains permanently engaged with the running rail through running wheels, while the mounting body carrying the separating element can be adjusted vertically. This segmentation ensures that the carriage body's connection to the rail is not compromised by height adjustment movements, maintaining reliable engagement even under sudden forces.
5Manufacturing precision
If the upper end of the separating element protrudes into the cross section of the running rail, then the separating element can be adjusted in height, but the transition area between the running rail and separating element requires additional covering elements
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the carriage body protruding into the running rail cross-section, the solution inverts the arrangement by keeping the carriage body within the rail and allowing the mounting body with the separating element to extend outward. This inversion eliminates the need for additional cover profiles to mask the transition area, as the separating element's upper end does not intrude into the rail's cross-sectional space.
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 ensures stable height adjustment and horizontal alignment of separating elements without readjusting buffer devices or increasing the rail's cross-section, preventing material stress and ensuring secure engagement with the rail, even under vertical forces.
Implementation Method 1
a coupling part which has a first and a second coupling element which are connected to one another by a web, the first coupling element being held displaceably in the carriage body and the second coupling element being held in the mounting body in a displaceable manner, and the web having a first coupling surface which runs inclined to the running direction
Data Source
AI summary
The drive (1), which serves to hold and move a separating element (3) in a running direction along a running rail (2), comprises a drive body (12) which holds at least one running element (11) and a mounting body (14) which is slidably connected to the drive body (12) and which can be connected to the separating element (3). According to the invention, a coupling part (13) is provided which has a first and a second coupling element (131) which are connected to each other by a web (133), wherein the first coupling element (131) is slidably held in the drive body (12) and the second coupling element (132) is slidably held in the mounting body (14), and that the web (133) has a first coupling surface (1331) inclined to the direction of travel, against which the drive body (12) or the mounting body (14) rests, so that when the coupling part (13) is displaced, the drive body (12) and the mounting body (14) are slidable relative to each other.The sliding device comprises two drive units (1A, 1B) according to the invention, which are guided in a running rail (2) and connected to a separating element (3), preferably a glass plate, and one of which is preferably detachably connected to a retraction device (5).