Articulated Roller Shutter Slat Design for Flex Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building closure systems with orientable slats, particularly roller shutters, face issues with slats flexing under their own weight and aesthetics when exceeding a certain dimension, and previous solutions like cable connections are unsightly, expensive, and not adaptable to rolling aprons.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves blades subdivided into fixed and movable parts connected by articulation edges with pivoting and hooking mechanisms, allowing for increased inertia and smooth deployment/folding, eliminating the need for cables and maintaining aesthetic appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If slats are made large (greater than two meters) to cover large bays, then the coverage area is improved, but the slats flex under their own weight causing operational problems and aesthetic issues
Solution Approach 1:
The slat is divided into two distinct parts: a fixed part that remains stationary and a movable part that can pivot independently. This segmentation allows the movable part to be lighter and more manageable, reducing flexing under weight while still achieving large overall coverage when combined with adjacent slats. The articulation edge between the two parts enables the movable part to adjust its position without compromising the structural integrity of the entire slat assembly.
2Strength
If connecting cables are used to link different blades together, then the structural connection is improved, but the appearance becomes unsightly and the assembly becomes expensive and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The hooking means are integrated directly into the blade structure itself, merging the connection function with the blade's structural elements. The hooking means on one blade engage with complementary hooking means on the following blade through the articulation edge, creating a unified assembly where the connection mechanism is indistinguishable from the blade structure. This eliminates the need for separate external cables and simplifies both appearance and assembly.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional roller shutter designs are used, then the manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the adaptability to roller shutters with adjustable slats is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The blade design incorporates dynamic elements that allow it to adapt to roller shutter operations. The movable part can pivot relative to the fixed part, and the hooking means engage and disengage as blades move relative to each other during rolling and unfolding. This dynamic capability enables the blade to function in both traditional and adjustable roller shutter configurations, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while gaining versatility.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The slat (1) has a mobile part (5) connected to a fixed part (4) by an articulation edge (6), where the slat is moved along a path (C). The path is divided into different short paths. One of the paths controls pivoting of the mobile part with respect to the fixed part from an occulting position to an open position using a pivoting control unit (7). The parts are aligned in same plane in the occulting position. The mobile part is shifted from the plane of the slat in the open position. Another path over the former path permits hooking of the mobile part with following slat (1S).