Centering Unit for Sectional Door Leaf Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sectional doors with rotatably connected sections face instability, water penetration, noise, and heat exchange issues due to their hinged design, which affects wind load absorption, watertightness, airtightness, and thermal resistance, particularly when an integrated door leaf is included, leading to operational disruptions.
Innovation Solution
The arrangement of centering units with vertical attachment elements ensures a secure and tight seal between door leaf sections, using interlocking designs with horizontal or slightly inclined centering inlets and rotatable rolling elements, along with drainage chambers to manage water and condensation, enhancing stability and sealing effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If sections of the door leaf are pivotally interconnected to allow movement, then ease of operation is improved, but stability and structural integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The door leaf is divided into multiple movable sections that can pivot independently, allowing the door to navigate around obstacles while maintaining overall structural integrity through the modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Centering units are pre-installed on the sections to automatically align and center the door leaf within the gate leaf when closed, ensuring proper positioning before final engagement and maintaining stability during operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If an integrated door is incorporated into the door leaf, then functionality is improved, but complexity of construction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
An integrated door is nested within the door leaf structure, allowing the door to be positioned and secured at specific locations within the larger door leaf assembly, maximizing space utilization and functional versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated door is pre-positioned and secured within the door leaf using centering units, ensuring proper alignment and structural integrity before final installation, thereby managing construction complexity
3Loss of energy
If sections are spaced apart with insulating material to improve thermal resistance, then energy efficiency is improved, but gaps create pathways for water penetration and noise
Solution Approach 1:
Sealing elements are installed in the gaps between sections to create flexible barriers that prevent water and noise penetration while allowing for thermal expansion and contraction of the insulating material
Solution Approach 2:
Sealing elements act as intermediary components between the spaced-apart sections, blocking harmful factors like water and noise while maintaining the thermal insulation gap
4Ease of operation
If hinge design allows considerable play for freedom of movement, then ease of operation is improved, but precision of closing position deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Centering units provide feedback mechanisms that detect when the door leaf is properly centered and aligned within the gate leaf, ensuring precise closing position while maintaining operational freedom through the feedback-controlled alignment process
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
This solution provides a stable and secure closure, improved water management, reduced air exchange, and enhanced insulating properties, ensuring effective drainage and maintaining the door's operational integrity under wind and weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a rotatable rolling element (23) arranged on a protruding, rigid axis (24) and corresponding to the centering inlet (20) in the closed position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a centering unit (1) for a gate leaf (13) consisting of several rotatably connected sections, which is guided in lateral guide rails, wherein a door is integrated into the gate leaf, the door leaf (12) of which also consists of several rotatably connected sections, which are rotatably connected to the sections of the gate leaf (13) via hinges, rotatable roller elements (23) which engage in centering pieces are provided for assuming the closed position of the door leaf (12) in the gate leaf (13), the sections essentially consist of two spaced outer sheets, the space between which is filled with an insulating material, wherein the lateral, vertical edges of the sections are closed by end caps (21, 22), the upper ends of the end caps (21,22) in the area of profiles (25) on the sections of the gate leaf (13) and the door leaf (12) are provided with centering units (1) which correspond to the gate leaf (13) in the closed position of the door leaf (12), the centering units (1) consist of a first section (2) which has a housing (5) in which an approximately horizontally extending centering inlet (20) is contained, which transitions into an end termination (33), and a second section (3) in whose housing (6) a fixed axle (24) is mounted, on which a rotatable roller element (23) is arranged, wherein the diameter of the roller element (23) is matched to the opening width of the centering inlet (20) so that the roller element (23) enters the centering inlet (20) in the closed position of the door leaf (12), furthermore the housings (5, 6) of the sections (2, 3) vertically extending openings (27, 29) which are connected to the end cap elements (21,22) contained shafts (37), wherein the shafts (37) extend over the entire longitudinal extent of the front closure elements (21, 22) and, in conjunction with the openings (27, 29) of the sections (2, 3), provide a continuous fluid connection over the total height of the door leaf (12).