Lift-and-Slide Door Carriage Coupling Rod Form-Fit Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing carriage arrangements for lift-and-slide doors or windows face issues with the secure fixation of coupling rods under high forces, leading to potential loosening and impairment of the carriage's function, which can result in hardware damage due to non-positive screw fixation.
Innovation Solution
The coupling rod and support elements are coupled using form-fitting elements with transverse toothing, allowing for secure transmission of high forces and featuring positive-locking elements on both the coupling rod and receptacle surfaces, eliminating the need for a screw and enhancing the connection's reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a screw fixation is used to secure the coupling rod in the receptacle, then the assembly is simple to manufacture, but the connection reliability is insufficient under high forces
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation mechanism is segmented into multiple independent form-fitting elements (transverse toothing, positive-locking elements) distributed along the coupling rod and receptacle interface. This segmentation allows each element to contribute to the overall connection reliability without requiring a single complex fixation mechanism, thereby improving reliability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point screw fixation to a multi-dimensional form-fitting connection involving transverse toothing (horizontal dimension) and positive-locking elements (vertical dimension). This dimensional expansion creates a robust connection that can withstand high forces in multiple directions, significantly improving connection reliability without adding complex fixation mechanisms.
2Strength
If a screw is used to fix the coupling rod, then the structure is simple, but the connection cannot transmit high forces reliably
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation system combines multiple fixation mechanisms (transverse toothing for shear resistance, positive-locking elements for tensile/compressive resistance) into a composite connection structure. This composite approach enables the transmission of high forces in different directions simultaneously, significantly improving strength while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized production processes for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The form-fitting elements are pre-formed during the manufacturing process of the coupling rod and receptacle, rather than being assembled separately. The transverse toothing and positive-locking elements are integrated into the components themselves, allowing for high force transmission capability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through single-step production processes.
3Reliability
If a non-positive screw fixation is used, then the device is easy to manufacture, but it loosens under vibration and high forces
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a screw that relies on friction and thread engagement to prevent loosening, the invention inverts the approach by using form-fitting elements that actively engage with each other through geometric interlocking. The transverse toothing and positive-locking elements are designed to resist loosening through their shape complementarity, providing connection stability without the complexity of anti-loosening mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3.1~5.3
AI summary
Carriage assembly (1) of a fitting for lift-and-slide doors or windows (2), comprising at least two carriages (3), each having at least one bearing (4) for attachment to a sash (5) of the door or window (2) and at least one support element (6) with rollers (7) for a guide rail (8), which is connected to the bearing (4) via lifting means (9) which, when the support element (6) is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the carriage by an actuating element (10), causes the bearing (4) to be lifted relative to the support element (6) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the carriage. A connecting rod (11) connects the support elements (6) of the at least two carriages (3) to each other and is inserted into correspondingly aligned receptacles (12) at at least one end of each support element (6) as the first direction of movement.The connecting rod (11) and the support element (6) can be coupled to each other by means of positive locking elements (13, 23), wherein the positive locking elements (13, 23) are arranged correspondingly on a longitudinal surface (16) of the connecting rod (11) and in the receptacle (12) of the support element (6), and the connecting rod (11) penetrates into the receiving-side positive locking element (23) by a second direction of movement in the receptacle (12) and assumes a coupling position.