Bottom-Mounted Motor Sliding Door System for Non-Rigid Ceilings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated sliding door systems face challenges in ease of installation, particularly when dealing with non-rigid ceilings and geometric dimensional imperfections, and often require complex fixings and adjustments, which can be cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
A system featuring a bottom sliding rail that can be easily placed on the ground, with a lightweight top rail that can be fixed to a false ceiling, allowing for simple installation and adjustment to compensate for environmental deviations, and is compatible with existing doors, reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a motorized top sliding rail is provided to automate door sliding, then manual operation difficulties are overcome, but the system becomes difficult to install due to the weight of the rail requiring rigid wall fixation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fixing the motorized drive to the ceiling (top rail), the patent inverts the approach by placing the motorized drive device in the bottom sliding rail on the floor. The bottom rail now contains the motor, transmission mechanism, and connecting bracket, while the top rail serves only as a lightweight guide. This inversion allows the heavy motorized components to be installed on the floor where they can be easily positioned and fixed, rather than requiring complex ceiling penetration and rigid wall anchoring.
2Ease of manufacture
If a top sliding rail is fixed to a non-rigid false ceiling, then installation is simplified, but complex fixings are required to pass through the false ceiling to reach the rigid ceiling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by moving the motorized drive device from the ceiling to the floor. The bottom sliding rail on the floor houses the motor and transmission mechanism, eliminating the need to penetrate the false ceiling entirely. The top rail becomes a simple lightweight guide that can be easily attached to the false ceiling surface without requiring complex anchorages or penetration of multiple ceiling layers.
3Ease of manufacture
If the bottom sliding rail is placed on the ground, then installation is simplified, but the rail must be prevented from moving longitudinally
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom sliding rail is designed with an integrated motorized drive device that serves multiple functions. The drive device exerts a braking force on the connecting bracket, which in turn prevents the bottom rail from moving longitudinally on the floor. This self-braking mechanism eliminates the need for separate external anchoring systems while maintaining the installation simplicity of placing the rail on the floor.
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 system enables quick and easy installation and use, enhances safety by eliminating the need for complex fixings and adjustments, and is suitable for various applications, including cupboards, while maintaining aesthetic appeal by being flush with the floor.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission arrangement capable of transforming a rotational movement of a drive shaft of a motor into a linear movement of the connecting bracket
Implementation Method 2
the transmission arrangement being at least partially disposed in the bottom compartment
Implementation Method 3
The door can be manually moved by sliding... A sliding track can accommodate one or more roller mechanisms connected to a door
Implementation Method 4
A damping system can be provided to slow down and stop a door at the end of its travel. However, such a damping system can introduce additional resistance
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A system (100) for sliding a door (101) comprises a bottom slide rail (103) suitable for being set on the floor such that the door (101) can come to bear on the bottom slide rail (103). A connecting device (108) can slide in the bottom slide rail (103). This connecting device (108) can be secured to a bottom part of the door (101). A drive device (110) exerts a drive force on the connecting device (108) in order to cause the connecting device (108) to slide in the bottom slide rail (103).