Concealed Damper and Retractor for Sliding Doors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing damper and pull-in devices for sliding doors are not suitable for designs where the running gear rollers are arranged outside the guide rail, as they are either visible when the door is open or require pre-installation within the rail system.
Innovation Solution
A damper and pull-in arrangement that can be installed inside the guide rail and connected to the sliding door after it is placed on the rail, featuring a housing with rotatable rollers or gliders that engage with the guide rail, allowing for a tool-free connection and activation of damping and retraction mechanisms when the door reaches its closed position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the damper and pull-in device is attached to the rear of the sliding door or to the cabinet, then the damping and retraction functions are achieved, but the device becomes visible when the door is open
Solution Approach 1:
The damper and pull-in device is nested within the guide rail structure, with the housing positioned inside the rail and the coupling mechanism integrated with the running gear. This nesting approach allows the functional components to be concealed within the existing structural elements, making the device invisible when the door is open while maintaining full damping and retraction functionality.
2Shape
If the damper and pull-in device is arranged within the guide rail, then the device is concealed when the door is open, but pre-installation within the rail is required before mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into separate functional modules: the housing with damping mechanism, the coupling mechanism, and the pull-in element. This segmentation allows the device to be assembled in parts and attached to the running gear after the rail is mounted, eliminating the need for pre-installation while maintaining the concealed appearance within the guide rail.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism is designed with pre-formed engagement features (such as the expandable fork or latch) that can connect to the running gear tabs without requiring complex tools or procedures. This preliminary preparation of the coupling interface enables simple post-installation attachment while maintaining the aesthetic benefit of the concealed design.
3Reliability
If the damper and pull-in device is firmly connected to the running gear, then the device is carried along with the sliding door, but the connection requires complex installation procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is designed to automatically engage and lock onto the running gear tabs through spring-loaded or elastic deformation features. The expandable fork, for example, naturally expands to engage the tabs and then locks into place, providing a self-servicing connection that requires no complex installation procedures while ensuring reliable functional connection and carrying along with the sliding door.
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 solution provides a concealed damping and retraction system that is invisible when the door is open and compatible with multiple sliding doors, ensuring effective braking and complete closure without the need for pre-installation, enhancing the functionality and aesthetics of sliding door systems.
Implementation Method 1
The carriage 9 comprises at least one roller 13 which engages in a slot-shaped recess, slot 15 for short, on the guide rail 5
Implementation Method 2
a damper element known from the prior art is activated in the device 19 and brakes the sliding door 7
Implementation Method 3
a pull-in element, which is also known from the prior art, is activated within the device 19 and pulls the sliding door 7 completely into the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
The damper and retracting device (19) is inserted in a housing, with two carrying rollers fitted at the front and rear end, such that it can be moved freely within the running rail (5). A coupling can be used in order for the device (19), once the sliding door (7) has been placed in position on the guide rail (5) by way of the running gear (9), to be latched into the running gear (9). The device (19) is always located behind the sliding door (7) and, even when the sliding door (7) is open, is not visible.