Adjustable Central Locking Profile for Lift-Slide Door Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing center lock units for lift and slide doors face issues with precise positioning requirements, manufacturing tolerances, and thermal deformation, leading to potential leaks and unsightly gaps, especially when the door leaves deviate slightly from their target axial position.
Innovation Solution
A center lock unit with horizontally movable central locking profiles and a balloon sealing profile, combined with a L-shaped cover profile that forms a continuous surface, allows for adjustable mounting and compensation of tolerances, ensuring a resilient, thermally stable, and visually appealing seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the central locking profiles are fixed in a precisely defined position, then wind tightness is achieved through proper seal alignment, but manufacturing tolerances cause misalignment and leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The central locking profile is made adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the door leaf, allowing it to be dynamically repositioned to compensate for manufacturing tolerances. The profile can be shifted horizontally within a range of several millimeters while maintaining sealing contact, transforming a static fixed-position design into a dynamic adjustable one that adapts to tolerance variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The position parameter of the central locking profile is changed from a fixed value to a variable range. The profile can be mounted at different longitudinal positions depending on the actual alignment requirements, allowing optimization of the sealing contact position while maintaining wind tightness despite manufacturing variations.
2Length of stationary object
If the central locking profiles are made long and thin for structural reasons, then they can span the required distance, but they deform and become crooked due to thermal deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The central locking profile is divided into multiple sections or segments along its length. This segmentation allows each segment to independently accommodate thermal expansion and contraction, preventing the entire long profile from deforming uniformly. The profile can be constructed as a series of shorter, more stable segments that maintain their shape under thermal stress.
3Manufacturing precision
If the locking profiles are precisely aligned during manufacturing, then sealing is achieved, but adjustment for tolerance compensation is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system incorporates adjustable elements that allow the central locking profile to be repositioned along the longitudinal axis after manufacturing. This dynamic adjustment capability enables tolerance compensation while maintaining the precision alignment achieved during manufacturing, combining both precision and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary mounting mechanism is introduced between the door leaf and the central locking profile. This intermediary component provides the adjustment interface, allowing precise positioning and tolerance compensation without compromising the alignment precision of the locking profile itself.
4Shape
If the cover profile is designed to conceal the locking mechanism, then visual appeal is improved, but access for adjustment and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cover profile is designed as a nested structure that can be easily removed or opened to provide access to the central locking profile for adjustment and maintenance. The cover conceals the locking mechanism during normal use for visual appeal, but can be accessed when needed, providing both aesthetic coverage and maintenance accessibility.
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 provides a mechanically resilient and thermally stable connection while maintaining windproofness and visual appeal, even when door leaves are slightly misaligned, by allowing for adjustable positioning and sealing, thus overcoming the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a large-volume, so-called balloon sealing profile is preferably provided, which forms a kind of cushion in the sealing receiving groove, against which the locking projection of the respective other central locking profile is attached
Data Source
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AI summary
A central locking unit (20) for a lift-and-slide door leaf (1) comprises: - a central locking profile (21) which can be attached to a visible side (10.2) of a sliding door leaf profile (10) such that a projecting profile section of the central locking profile (20) is arranged spaced apart from the visible side (10.2) and with a profile projection (21.5) pointing towards a leaf infill (30), forming a sealing groove, - a sealing profile (25) arranged in the sealing groove, and - a cover profile (22) which is arranged on the rear side (10.3) of the sliding door leaf profile (10) pointing away from the leaf infill (30). The central locking profile has (21) a fastening section (21.1) and a sealing section (21.2), wherein the fastening section (21.1) is located between - the visible side (10.2) of the sliding door leaf profile (10), - a short cover profile leg (22) extending parallel to the visible side (10.2).1) a cover profile (22) and a long cover profile leg (22.2) projecting beyond the visible side (10.2) of the sliding door leaf profile (10). The position of the center locking profile (21) is adjustable along the length of the leaf (1) relative to the short cover profile leg (22.2), and the distance between the inside of the long cover profile leg (22.2) and the center locking profile (21) is adjustable.