Lift-and-Slide Carriage Assembly With Centering Mounting Template
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carriage assemblies for lift-and-slide elements, such as patio doors or windows, are difficult to align properly in profile grooves due to non-complementary shapes, leading to off-center and tilted installations, which cause uneven stress and potential constraints in movement.
Innovation Solution
A carriage arrangement with a centering aid in the form of a mounting template that bridges the gap between the support foot and the sash frame, ensuring vertical and centered mounting by using complementary chamfers and locking hooks to secure the assembly in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the base part of the carriage assembly does not have a shape complementary to the profile groove, then the carriage assembly can be easily manufactured with a simple base part design, but the carriage assembly cannot be properly centered in the profile groove, leading to off-center and tilted installations
Solution Approach 1:
The base part is divided into two functional segments: a simple mounting plate for easy manufacturing and attachment, and a separate centering aid with complementary shape to the profile groove. This segmentation allows the mounting plate to remain simple while the centering aid provides precise positioning through its groove-complementary geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering aid acts as an intermediary element between the simple mounting plate and the profile groove. It transfers the positioning function from the base part to a dedicated component that provides the complementary shape, thereby enabling precise centering without complicating the overall base part design.
2Ease of operation
If the profile groove has a clear width larger than the transverse dimension of the carriage frame, then the carriage assembly can be easily installed without tight fit constraints, but the carriage assembly must be positioned and mounted off-center, leading to tilted installation
Solution Approach 1:
The centering aid is designed to automatically self-align with the profile groove through its complementary shape. When the carriage assembly is inserted into the profile groove, the centering aid's geometry causes it to naturally settle into the centered position without requiring precise manual positioning or adjustment by the installer.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering aid employs asymmetric geometry with a shape that is complementary to the profile groove. This asymmetric design creates a unique fit that only achieves proper alignment when the carriage assembly is centered in the groove, eliminating the possibility of off-center or tilted installation.
3Device complexity
If the carriage assembly is mounted off-center in the profile groove, then the installation process is simplified without centering aids, but uneven stress occurs on the carriage assembly when it rests on the guide rail, leading to potential constraints in movement
Solution Approach 1:
The base part is segmented into a simple mounting plate and a separate centering aid. This segmentation allows the mounting plate to remain simple in structure while the centering aid provides the necessary geometric constraints for proper alignment, thereby maintaining low overall complexity while ensuring reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The centering aid serves as an intermediary component that mediates between the simple mounting plate and the profile groove. It ensures proper alignment and load distribution without adding significant complexity to the overall carriage assembly structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
A carriage assembly (10) for moving, lowering, and raising a lift-and-slide element with a sash frame that is movable along a track relative to a frame. The carriage assembly comprises a base part (12) designed for attachment in a profile groove (18) of the sash frame and comprising at least one support (40) with a free end on which a support foot (46) is provided. This support foot is designed to align the sash frame with respect to the track when the lift-and-slide element is lowered. The carriage assembly further comprises a carriage (20) with a carriage frame (22) and at least two rollers (24) mounted on the carriage frame (22), as well as a lifting mechanism (26) acting between the base part (12) and the carriage (20) for raising and lowering the carriage (20) relative to the base part (12).The support foot (46) carries on its upper side facing the base part (12) a mounting template (44), which serves to facilitate the mounting of the base part (12) in the profile groove (18) of the sash frame and is designed to at least partially bridge a gap between the upper side of the support foot (46) and the lower side of the sash frame in which the profile groove (18) is formed.