Actuation Device for Pivoted Door Seal Obstacle Clearance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional seals for lower edges of pivoted doors in public transport vehicles, such as buses and coaches, face challenges in maintaining effective tightness and smooth operation due to their passive deformation by friction from obstacles, leading to either excessive rigidity or insufficient tightness.

Innovation Solution

An actuation device with elastic means that maintains the seal in an obliquely raised position and includes closing means to force the seal into a vertical position during door closure, utilizing a second rotating lever with a stop element to adjust the angular position and ensure proper sealing only when the door is fully closed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the seal is made rigid to maintain tightness, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the seal cannot deform to overcome obstacles and hinders door operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoiddoor operation smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is designed with a rotating lower part that can dynamically change its orientation angle relative to the door edge. This dynamic capability allows the seal to adapt its position: maintaining a tight sealing angle when the door is stationary, and rotating to an oblique position to clear obstacles during door movement, thus resolving the contradiction between rigidity for sealing and flexibility for operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the orientation parameter of the seal's lower part from fixed to variable. By allowing the seal to rotate between a vertical sealing position and an oblique clearance position, the system maintains tightness when needed while enabling smooth door operation by clearing obstacles, effectively resolving the rigidity-f flexibility contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the seal is made flexible to overcome obstacles, then door operation is improved, but sealing tightness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor operation smoothnessVSAvoidsealing effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The seal incorporates a rotating mechanism that provides dynamic adaptability. The lower part of the seal can rotate to an oblique position to clear obstacles during door movement, ensuring smooth operation. When the door is stationary, the seal returns to its vertical sealing position to maintain tightness, thus resolving the contradiction between flexibility for operation and rigidity for sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The seal undergoes periodic rotation between sealing position and clearance position synchronized with door operation cycles. During door movement, the seal rotates to clear obstacles; during stationary periods, it returns to sealing position. This periodic action ensures both smooth door operation and effective sealing at appropriate times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If the seal remains in vertical position to maintain sealing, then tightness is improved, but the seal cannot clear obstacles during door movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing tightnessVSAvoiddoor operation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The seal's lower part is designed to rotate dynamically between vertical and oblique positions. During door movement, it rotates to an oblique position to clear obstacles efficiently. When the door is stationary, it returns to the vertical position to maintain sealing tightness. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between maintaining sealing position and clearing obstacles for efficient door operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic means and closing means are configured to prepare the seal for obstacle clearance before door movement begins and to restore the sealing position before door closure. This preliminary action ensures the seal is in the correct position at the right time, maintaining both operational efficiency and sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If elastic means continuously hold the seal in raised position, then obstacle clearance is improved, but energy consumption increases and sealing is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobstacle clearance capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic means work in conjunction with closing means to create periodic action: the elastic means raise the seal to clear obstacles during door movement, while the closing means lower it for sealing when the door is stationary. This periodic engagement ensures obstacle clearance capability while minimizing continuous energy consumption, as the elastic means only actively hold the raised position when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic means provide self-service by automatically raising the seal when door movement is detected, without requiring continuous external energy input. The closing means then passively allow the seal to return to sealing position. This self-service mechanism improves obstacle clearance while minimizing energy consumption compared to continuously powered systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 device allows the seal to automatically adjust its position to overcome obstacles during door movement without hindering operation, maintaining effective sealing and preventing water ingress while ensuring smooth door operation.

Implementation Method 1

comprises elastic means acting on the lower part of the seal and tending to maintain it in the mentioned second obliquely raised position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

comprises closing means suitable for exerting a force opposite to the action of the elastic means and for forcing the lower part of the seal to adopt the first essentially vertical position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP2135765B1Actuation device for a seal for lower edges of pivoted doors
Publication Date: 2013.12.25 SA MASATS
  • EP2135765B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2135765B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an actuation device for a seal of those comprising a lower part rotating about a longitudinal axis between two positions, the first of which is a essentially vertical downward position and the second of which is an obliquely raised position, the device comprising elastic means acting on the lower part of the seal, tending to maintain it in the mentioned second obliquely raised position, as well as closing means suitable for exerting a force opposite to the action of the elastic means and for forcing the lower part of the seal to adopt the first, essentially vertical, position only when the door incorporating the seal is in its closed position.