Self-Adjusting Door Seal Using Gravity and Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door seals for sliding doors require costly and time-consuming adjustments to match the height of the slot between the door and the floor, leading to increased force needed to open the door over time due to increased contact pressure as the door sinks.
Innovation Solution
A door seal with a freely movable seal carrier part and multiple sealing elements, guided by a groove-shaped recess on the door leaf, utilizing gravity and a spring element to maintain contact pressure, eliminating the need for adjustments and serving as a guide for the sliding door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the seal is fixed to the door leaf, then the seal structure is simple, but the seal requires adjustment to match the slot height and becomes expensive and time-consuming to install
Solution Approach 1:
The seal carrier part is designed to be movable relative to the door leaf along the groove-shaped recess, allowing the seal to dynamically adjust its position vertically. This dynamic structure eliminates the need for manual adjustment during installation while maintaining a relatively simple overall seal structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is divided into separate functional components: the seal carrier part that moves independently, the sealing elements that remain in contact with the floor, and the guide part that constrains movement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while simplifying the installation process.
2Manufacturing precision
If the seal is fixed at a specific height, then the sealing position is precise, but the contact pressure increases over time as the door sinks requiring readjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The movable seal carrier part allows the seal to adapt to changes in door position over time. As the door sinks or shifts, the seal carrier can move vertically within the groove-shaped recess to maintain optimal contact pressure with the floor, ensuring long-term sealing reliability without requiring readjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal system automatically adjusts itself through gravity and the constrained movement along the groove. The seal carrier part moves to the appropriate position based on the door's actual position, eliminating the need for manual intervention or readjustment over time.
3Ease of operation
If the seal is mounted to move freely vertically, then adjustment is unnecessary, but the seal requires a guide structure to maintain proper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The guide function is merged with the sealing structure by forming the guide part directly on the seal carrier part. The groove-shaped recess in the door leaf serves as the guide track, eliminating the need for separate complex guide structures while still allowing free vertical movement for self-adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove-shaped recess serves multiple functions: it guides the vertical movement of the seal carrier, constrains lateral movement to maintain proper positioning, and allows the seal to adapt to different door positions. This multi-functional design simplifies the overall structure while achieving the desired ease of operation.
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 self-adjusting sealing effect that adapts to uneven floors and maintains optimal sealing without requiring manual adjustments, reducing the force needed to open and close the door while serving as a guide for the sliding door.
Implementation Method 1
The seal carrier part (20) is freely supported in the direction of gravity S... generating a contact pressure required for the sealing effect by the force of gravity pressing the seal onto the floor
Implementation Method 2
at least one spring element is inserted between the door leaf and the seal carrier part, which spring element acts on the seal carrier part in the direction of gravity with an additional force
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A door leaf (10) comprises a door panel (12) and a seal (14). The seal (14) has a sealing support part (20) which is vertically displaceable on the door panel (12). The seal (14) also has at least one sealing element (22, 24) supported by the sealing support part (20), which, in a mounted state of the door leaf (10), is in contact with a floor surface (18). In an operating state, the seal (14) is freely sliding on the door panel (12) in the direction of gravity (S), and the sealing element (22, 24) is designed to support the seal against the floor surface.