Door Drive Carriage Integrated Latch Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drive carriages for doors, particularly garage doors, are complex and costly due to their multi-component structure, which complicates manufacturing and assembly, and often require expensive solutions for decoupling and locking functions.

Innovation Solution

A simplified drive carriage design featuring a body with a pivotally mounted door driver, a shiftable carriage driver connectable to a power transmission device, a latch mounted via a flexible element, and a latching slide that transitions between free-wheeling and drive positions to enable easy decoupling and recoupling, reducing the number of components and assembly complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a multi-component plastic construct with many different components is used, then the locking, decoupling, and coupling functions can be combined in a single component, but the manufacturing and mounting costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional integrationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the locking element, flexible element, and latching element into a single integrated component that performs multiple functions (locking, decoupling, coupling) simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated component serves multiple purposes: it provides locking function through the locking element, enables decoupling through the flexible element's elastic deformation, and facilitates coupling through the latching element's engagement with the carriage driver, making a single component universal for all these functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a complex multipart construction is used, then all functions (locking, decoupling, coupling) are achieved, but the assembly complexity and mounting difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional capabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the locking element, flexible element, and latching element into one integrated component, the patent reduces the number of parts that need to be assembled, thereby simplifying the assembly process and reducing mounting difficulty while maintaining all required functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If the latch is pressed into the recess by the flexible element, then the carriage driver is coupled with the body for mechanical movement transmission, but the system becomes rigid and cannot allow manual operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical coupling efficiencyVSAvoidmanual operation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible element provides dynamic behavior by allowing elastic deformation: it presses the latch into the recess for secure mechanical coupling during motorized operation, but can be deformed to release the latch when manual operation is required, enabling the system to transition between rigid coupled and decoupled states as needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If the drive carriage uses many different components made of plastics and metal, then the required functions are achieved, but the cost to manufacture and mount increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional performanceVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges three separate components (locking element, flexible element, latching element) into a single integrated component, directly reducing the quantity of substance (number of parts) while maintaining all required functional performances through the combined action of these integrated elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 allows for quick and easy assembly without special tools, reduces component costs, and provides a robust, cost-effective drive carriage with a simple coupling mechanism that enables both manual operation and secure locking, while minimizing the number of individual parts.

Implementation Method 1

a latch (3) which is mounted in the body (1) via a flexible element (8)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11332968B2Drive carriage for a door and door drive

Publication Date: 2022.05.17 MARANTEC ANTRIEBS UND STEUERUNQSTECHNIK GMBH & CO PRODUKTIONS KG(DE)

AI summary

A drive carriage for a door, in particular garage door, comprising a body which is linearly shiftably mountable in a rail of a door drive, and a door driver pivotally mounted on the body, wherein a carriage driver which is shiftable relative to the body and is connectable with a power transmission means of the door drive, a latch mounted in the body via a flexible element and is pushable into a recess of the carriage driver by the flexible element, and a latching slide which urges the latch against the flexible element into an unlocking position in which the latch is not pushed into the recess by the flexible element, and which in a drive position permits pushing of the latch into the recess of the carriage driver by the flexible element in order to take a locking position in which the carriage driver is coupled with the body.