Curved-Rail Shade Guide Structure With Low-Friction Belt Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shade guide structures face issues with high sliding resistance and abrasion when used with curved guide rails, such as those found in automobile roofs, due to high surface pressure and uneven force distribution, leading to sagging and wear of the shade sheet.
Innovation Solution
A shade guide structure featuring guide belts attached to the shade sheet via a fixation part at its center, with guide rails having an inclined lock surface and a slot that allows the guide belt to conform to curved shapes, reducing surface pressure and sliding resistance by distributing the tensile force laterally and preventing side surface contact with the guide rail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the guide element extends perpendicularly to the surface of the shade sheet, then the guide element can be locked by the guide rail, but the ability of the guide element to conform to the guide rail shape is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The guide element is designed with flexibility to dynamically adjust its orientation. It can extend perpendicular to the shade sheet when locked by the guide rail for stability, but also bend or incline to conform to curved guide rail shapes when needed, transitioning between rigid locking and flexible adaptation states
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation angle of the guide element relative to the shade sheet is made variable rather than fixed. The guide element can change its angular parameter from perpendicular (90 degrees) to inclined or parallel positions, allowing it to adapt to different guide rail curvatures while maintaining locking capability through the guide rail's engagement structure
2Adaptability or versatility
If the guide element is disposed to be in parallel to or inclined relative to the surface of the shade sheet, then the shape-conforming ability is improved, but the sliding resistance and abrasion increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the guide element have different functional qualities. The portion contacting the guide rail is designed with specific surface properties to reduce friction and wear, while the portion attached to the shade sheet maintains the inclined or parallel orientation for shape conforming. The guide rail contact surface may have lubricating properties or optimized geometry to minimize sliding resistance locally
3Adaptability or versatility
If the guide element is disposed to be in parallel to or inclined relative to the surface of the shade sheet, then the shape-conforming ability is improved, but the tensile force is unevenly applied to the guide elements
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure employs asymmetric force distribution compensation. While the guide elements may be inclined or parallel to conform to curved guide rails, the attachment mechanism to the shade sheet is designed to symmetrically distribute tensile forces. The guide rail geometry or locking mechanism includes features that balance the asymmetric orientation by applying counteracting forces or moments, ensuring uniform force distribution to both guide elements
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a shade guide structure which can be used for an application in which the guide rails are curved, in which the sliding resistance is low, and which can reduce abrasion, a shade guide structure includes: a shade sheet wound around a winding shaft so that the shade sheet can be wound up and drawn out; guide belts provided along either side edge of the shade sheet and each joined to the shade sheet via a fixation part provided substantially at a center in a width direction; and left and right guide rails which guide the guide belts in a longitudinal direction when the shade sheet is wound up or drawn out, wherein each guide rail includes: a guide wall having a lock surface which is inclined relative to the shade sheet in a transverse cross section and locks the guide belts; a slot which is formed in the guide wall and through which the shade sheet passes; and a guide part which contacts the shade sheet such that the shade sheet extends from the fixation part substantially at a right angle to the guide belt.