Drop-down Seal Segmented Support Rail for Thick Locking Rods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lowering seals for threshold-free doors are limited by the width of the housing rail, which restricts the diameter of locking rods or bolts, often requiring a weakened rod or a rectangular cross-section to maintain stability.
Innovation Solution
A lowering seal design featuring a housing rail, support rail, and sealing profile with a through opening that allows a wider locking rod, utilizing an extension means with a clear width greater than the base rail, enabling the use of thicker rods while maintaining the same cross-section as prior seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the housing rail width is reduced to maintain the same seal cross-section, then the seal maintains compact dimensions, but the locking rod diameter must be reduced or weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The support rail is segmented into a base rail and an extension means, where the extension means provides a localized widening of the passage opening. This segmentation allows the locking rod to pass through a wider area without increasing the overall seal cross-section, thereby maintaining rod stability while keeping the seal compact.
Solution Approach 2:
The passage opening width is made non-uniform along the support rail length. The extension means creates a local widening at the rod passage location, while other sections maintain the standard narrow width. This local quality change allows the rod to pass through with sufficient clearance without increasing the overall seal dimensions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rectangular cross-section rod is used to maintain stability in a narrow seal, then the locking function is maintained, but the rod cannot be circular which may affect manufacturing and insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The support rail structure is segmented with an extension means that creates a localized wide passage. This segmentation enables circular rods to pass through without requiring rectangular cross-sections, as the circular rod can rotate freely within the widened passage while maintaining stability during the locking operation.
3Strength
If the housing rail is widened to accommodate thicker rods, then the locking rod stability improves, but the seal cross-section increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly widening the housing rail, the extension means creates a localized widening only at the necessary passage location. The base rail maintains the standard narrow width elsewhere, ensuring the seal cross-section remains compact while providing sufficient space for the locking rod at the critical passage point.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension means extends the support rail in the longitudinal direction at the rod passage location, creating a localized wide passage. This dimensional extension along the length of the seal allows the rod to pass through with adequate clearance without increasing the cross-sectional dimensions of the overall seal.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A drop seal has a housing rail (1), a support rail (2), a sealing profile (3) and a drop mechanism as well as a through opening (12, 25, 30) which runs transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) of the drop seal and parallel to the drop and raise direction (A) of the support rail (2) and which can be penetrated by a locking rod (4).The support rail (2) has a base rail (20) and an extension element (5) adjoining the base rail (20) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the drop seal, wherein the through-opening (12, 25, 30) runs along or through the extension element (5) and has a clear width (BE) over the entire height of the extension element (5) which is greater than the clear width (BB) of the base rail (20) or which alternatively or additionally corresponds to at least the outer width of the base rail, wherein the clear widths (BE, BB) extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) and perpendicular to the lowering and raising direction (A). The base rail (20), the extension element (5), and the sealing profile (3) can be raised and lowered together by means of the lowering mechanism. The drop seal according to the invention with the segmented support rail can be used with relatively thick drive or edge bolt rods.