Awning Support Beam Pivot Mounting for Wear Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing awning designs face issues with the support beam being rigidly connected to the guide rails, leading to spatial proximity with the awning curtain, causing wear and instability, especially when the guide rails are inclined.

Innovation Solution

The support beam is suspended at both ends via vertically running pivot bearing arms relative to the support frame, allowing it to pivot about a horizontal axis, maintaining a safe distance from the awning curtain and enabling vertical adjustment regardless of the guide rail inclination, with a design that includes a hollow profile for accessory components and concealed electrical supply lines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the support beam is rigidly connected to the guide rails, then the structure is stable and simple to manufacture, but the support beam tilts when the guide rails are inclined and the awning curtain may drag on the support beam causing wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of support beamVSAvoidadaptability to inclined guide rails
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support beam is made dynamically adjustable through pivot bearing arms that allow vertical pivoting. This enables the support beam to adapt its position relative to inclined guide rails while maintaining stability, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and adaptability to different rail inclinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The vertical position of the support beam can be adjusted by pivoting the pivot bearing arms, changing the spatial parameters of the support beam relative to the guide rails. This allows the system to adapt to different rail inclinations while maintaining proper spacing from the awning curtain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If the support beam is rigidly connected close to the guide rails, then the structure is compact and simple, but the awning curtain may contact the support beam causing wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of support structureVSAvoidwear resistance of awning curtain
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot bearing arms act as intermediary elements between the guide rails and the support beam. These arms provide the necessary spacing and adjustment capability, preventing direct contact between the awning curtain and support beam while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the support beam is suspended with pivot bearing arms, then the distance from the awning curtain is increased preventing wear, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistance of awning curtainVSAvoidcomplexity of support beam mounting
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot bearing arms provide dynamic adjustment capability that enables proper spacing between the support beam and awning curtain. This dynamic positioning prevents wear while the modular design of the pivot mechanism keeps the overall structural complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of manufacture

If the support beam is rigidly connected to inclined guide rails, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but the support beam becomes tilted and cannot properly support accessories

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of support beam installationVSAvoidhorizontal alignment of support beam
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot bearing arms enable dynamic adjustment of the support beam's vertical position, allowing the beam to maintain horizontal alignment even when mounted on inclined guide rails. This dynamic positioning capability is achieved through a relatively simple pivoting mechanism that is easy to manufacture and install.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3985201B1Awning, in particular a winter garden or a weather guard with a support
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 MARKILUX GMBH CO KG
  • EP3985201B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3985201B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3985201B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An awning, in particular a conservatory or weather protection awning, comprises an awning curtain (2), a support frame (1) with lateral guide rails (3, 4) extending in the projection direction (A) of the awning curtain (2) for the awning curtain (2) and end rails (5, 6) extending transversely thereto for stationary mounting of the awning on a building (G) and/or on supports (10, 11), as well as at least one support beam (16) which is arranged transversely to the projection direction (A) between the two guide rails (3, 4) below the awning curtain (2), wherein the at least one support beam (16) is suspended downwards at its two ends (17, 18) relative to the support frame (1) via a vertically extending pivot bearing arm (19, 20) and is pivotably connected to the guide rails (3, 4) about a horizontal pivot axis (S) extending transversely to the projection direction (A).