Actively Adjustable Guide Rail for Lift-and-Slide Doors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lift-and-slide elements require complex designs with wide sash profiles and technical effort to move between raised and lowered positions, especially when electric actuation is involved, due to the need for a lifting mechanism on the wing and complex mobility of current designs.

Innovation Solution

A running rail with actively adjustable lowering sections, integrated drive devices, and a lifting mechanism that allows the wing to be moved between raised and lowered positions without a lifting mechanism on the wing, using motorized or manual adjustment to control the position of the lowering sections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a lifting mechanism is provided on the wing to move it between raised and lowered positions, then the wing can be moved between travel and fixed positions, but the sash profile becomes wide and the design becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovability of wing between positionsVSAvoidcomplexity of lifting mechanism and sash profile
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing the lifting mechanism on the movable wing, the invention inverts the approach by placing the lifting mechanism on the stationary running rail. The lowering section of the rail is actively adjustable to move the wing between positions, eliminating the need for a lifting mechanism on the wing itself and enabling narrow sash profiles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The running rail is divided into a first section and an actively adjustable lowering section. This segmentation allows the lowering section to be independently controlled to adjust the wing's position, separating the lifting function from the wing structure and enabling compact design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Extent of automation

If electric actuation is provided on the wing to improve comfort, then automated movement is achieved, but current introduction becomes technically complex due to wing movability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated movement of wingVSAvoidcomplexity of current introduction and electrical system
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical actuation system is relocated from the movable wing to the stationary running rail. The motor is mounted on the running rail and drives the lowering section, eliminating the need for complex current introduction systems on the movable wing while maintaining automated functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Length of moving object

If the lowering section is made actively adjustable to enable automated wing movement, then narrow sash profiles are enabled, but the running rail design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewidth of sash profileVSAvoidcomplexity of running rail with adjustable lowering section
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lowering section of the running rail is designed to be actively adjustable between different positions (flush position and lowered position). This dynamic adjustment capability allows the rail to adapt its configuration, enabling narrow sash profiles while the motorized control system manages the complexity through automated operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3333347B1Guide rail
Publication Date: 2022.07.27 MACO TECHNOLOGIE GMBH
  • EP3333347B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A track (11) for a lift-and-slide element (13), in particular for a lift-and-slide door or window, comprising a sash (15) and a roller assembly (17), is described. The track (11) defines a running surface (19) on which the sash (15) can be moved by means of the roller assembly (17). Furthermore, the track (11) has at least one lowering section (21) that is actively adjustable, in particular by motor, between a flush position and a lowered position in order to move the sash (15) between a raised traveling position and a lowered fixed position when the sash (15) is resting on the lowering section (21) with a roller (23) of the roller assembly (17).