Adjustable Drive Linkage for Lift and Slide Door Carriage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lift and slide door or window carriage units face issues with reduced effective stroke due to mechanical clearance errors, requiring precise assembly, and reduced spring assistance leading to increased user effort and instability, especially with heavy sashes.
Innovation Solution
A carriage unit with an adjustable drive linkage and connecting means that allows precise alignment and adaptation of the rod connection point, combined with a kinematic mechanism using cam surfaces and pivoting wheels to maintain stable lifting and lowering movements, eliminating the need for precise assembly and distributing the weight effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an inclined slot guide unit is used in the carriage, then the sash can be lifted and lowered, but mechanical clearance errors reduce the effective stroke and require precise assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fixed inclined slot guide with a dynamic system comprising a movable guide element that can adjust its position along the stroke direction. This guide element is connected to the carriage through a linkage mechanism that allows it to compensate for clearance variations, maintaining full effective stroke without requiring precise assembly tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces adjustable geometric parameters in the guide mechanism, specifically the position and orientation of the movable guide element, which can be modified to optimize performance and compensate for manufacturing variations. This allows the system to adapt to different clearance conditions without requiring high precision assembly.
2Force
If pre-loaded springs are used to reduce sash weight, then lifting is facilitated, but the spring unloads as lifting increases reducing assistance in the final stages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a counterweight mechanism that balances the sash weight throughout the lifting stroke. The counterweight is positioned and dimensioned to provide continuous compensating force, ensuring that the spring maintains optimal preload throughout the entire range of motion, thereby maintaining lifting assistance even in the final stages of the stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting system combines multiple force-generating elements (springs, counterweights, and gravitational forces) into a composite mechanism that provides synergistic effect. This composite approach ensures consistent force application throughout the stroke by compensating for the individual limitations of each element.
3Ease of operation
If the pin-slot-spring combination is used, then the sash can be lifted, but the weight of heavy sashes causes handle instability and excessive user effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary linkage mechanism between the handle and the lifting elements. This intermediary system includes additional linkages and guide elements that distribute and stabilize the forces transmitted from the handle, reducing the direct impact of heavy sash weight on handle stability and minimizing user effort.
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 full utilization of the carriage stroke, reduces user effort, and maintains high stability of the sash in the open position, even with heavy loads, while allowing for precise adjustment and assembly without high precision requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic element, positioned in the main carriage, pushing on the link mechanism during lifting of the sash
Implementation Method 2
a kinematic mechanism using cam surfaces and pivoting wheels to maintain stable lifting and lowering movements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Described is a carriage unit for sliding doors or windows of the lift and slide type (1), comprising at least one main carriage (4, 5), associated, in use, on a bottom crosspiece (6) of a sash (3) and resting on a horizontal base track (7) to allow the sliding of the sash (3) in both the opening and closing directions; the main carriage (4, 5) having a drive linkage (13) of the movement comprising an operating arm (25) interposed and connected, in use, between / to a rod (23) slidable in the sash (3) and means (12) for lifting and lowering the sash (3) positioned and acting on the main carriage (4, 5); the sash (3) being connected, in turn, to a handle (14); the handle (14) being positioned on the sash (3) for controlling the open position, with a lifting of the sash (3) relative to the track (7), and the closed position, with a lowering of the sash (3) relative to the track (7) by rotating the handle (14) from a first configuration to a second configuration, and vice versa, in such a way as to also activate the means (12) for the lifting and lowering; the operating arm (25) of the drive linkage (13) of the movement has adjustable means (24) for its secure connection with the rod (23); the adjustable means (24) being designed for adapting the position of the arm (25) relative to the operating rod (23) keeping unchanged the position of the rod (23) and the relative configuration adopted by the handle (14) and by the lifting means of the main carriage (4, 5). [ Figure 2 ]