Threshold-Free Door Drop-Down Seal with Corner Stop Element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing systems fail to effectively seal the corner areas of barrier-free door thresholds without a stop edge, allowing air to flow freely due to the lack of a rebate edge, even when a sealing strip is lowered and pressed against the floor.
Innovation Solution
A drop-down seal unit comprising a deformable pressure sealing element and a lowerable sealing strip connected by a sealing strip that extends from the pressure sealing element to the lower edge of the door leaf, with a stop sealing element that extends into the rebate area of the door leaf to create a reliable seal between the window frame and the housing, and a flexible sealing strip that rolls out and applies pressure against the window frame when the door is closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing strip is lowered and pressed against the floor to seal the door, then sealing across the width of the door is improved, but sealing in the corner area fails due to lack of rebate edge
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into two independent sealing elements: a lowering sealing strip for the main width sealing and a stop sealing element for the corner area sealing. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function independently, with the stop sealing element providing reliable corner sealing without requiring contact with the floor threshold.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop sealing element acts as an intermediary component that bridges the gap between the housing and the window frame in the corner area. It provides a sealing solution that does not require direct contact with the floor, thereby mediating the sealing function in the problematic corner region where conventional sealing strips fail.
2Ease of manufacture
If a rebate seal is drawn into the profile section to seal towards the threshold, then sealing structure is provided, but sealing becomes ineffective due to lack of rebate edge on barrier-free thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on the conventional approach where the seal rests on a rebate edge of the threshold, the stop sealing element is designed to rest against the window frame itself. This inverts the sealing mechanism from threshold-based to frame-based, making it effective for barrier-free thresholds without rebate edges.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop sealing element is specifically designed with different properties than conventional sealing strips. It is configured to extend into the rebate area and contact the window frame locally in the corner region, providing targeted sealing quality where it is most needed without requiring floor contact.
3Reliability
If the sealing strip is lowered to the ground across the width of the door leaf, then sealing across the width is achieved, but air leakage occurs in corner areas
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into two distinct elements working in parallel: the lowering sealing strip handles the width-wise sealing, while the stop sealing element specifically addresses the corner area sealing. This segmentation eliminates air leakage paths in the corner regions that a single sealing strip cannot address.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges two sealing mechanisms into a unified system: the lowering sealing strip mechanism and the stop sealing element mechanism. Together, they provide comprehensive sealing coverage, combining the benefits of width-wise sealing with effective corner area sealing to prevent air leakage throughout the entire door assembly.
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 ensures a comprehensive seal across the width of the door leaf, preventing air leakage by maintaining contact with the window frame and avoiding direct contact with the floor, thus enhancing the sealing performance in corner areas.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure sealing element can be formed from a closed-cell, ie non-absorbent, foam.
Implementation Method 2
When the door leaf is pressed against the door post and the drop-down seal is triggered as a result, the sealing strip is also rolled out. It is applied to the frame in the rebate area as well as being lowered to the ground across the width of the door leaf.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In a drop-down sealing unit (100) for a threshold-free door, a sealing strip element (20) is provided which is vertically displaceable between two guide sections (11, 12) and has at least one release unit (30) with a release element (31) projecting from the housing (10) for lowering the sealing strip element (20). An elastically deformable stop sealing element (40) is attached to a side surface of the housing (10) intended for connection with a door leaf, to which a flexible sealing strip (50) is connected, extending in an arc to the drop-down sealing strip element (20).