Eccentric Roller Lifting Mechanism for Threshold-Free Sliding Doors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding door and window lifting mechanisms require significant adjustment work and create tripping hazards due to protruding guides, and they often necessitate wide frames that reduce glass surface area and increase weight.

Innovation Solution

A lifting device with eccentrically mounted rollers that allow the sliding door or window to be lifted by laterally shifting a carrier, providing a threshold-free passage and incorporating a C-shaped rubber-elastic profile for sealing and guidance, which can be combined with a motorized drive for enhanced operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If a traditional lifting mechanism with a lever in the frame is used, then the lifting function is achieved, but the frame width increases significantly reducing glass surface area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglass surface areaVSAvoidframe width
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting mechanism is extracted from the wing frame and relocated to the stationary frame. The carrier with lifting rollers is positioned in the stationary frame, allowing the wing to be lifted without requiring frame width in the moving wing, thus maximizing glass surface area while maintaining the lifting function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The lifting mechanism transitions from a horizontal lever arrangement in the wing frame to a vertical carrier-based system in the stationary frame. This dimensional change allows the lifting function to be achieved without increasing the width of the moving wing, resolving the contradiction between glass surface area and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a guide protruding from the ground is used to guide the sash, then the sash guidance is achieved, but it creates tripping hazards and obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesash guidanceVSAvoidtripping hazard
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of guiding the sash from below with protruding guides that create tripping hazards, the invention inverts the approach by guiding the sash from above. The C-shaped profile on the upper edge of the wing engages with the T-shaped guide in the stationary frame, providing reliable guidance without ground-level protrusions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The guidance function traditionally performed by ground-level guides is copied and relocated to the upper edge of the wing through the C-shaped profile engaging with the T-shaped guide. This creates an equivalent guidance function without the harmful tripping hazards of protruding guides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If rollers are mounted in the frame of the wing for lifting, then the lifting function is achieved, but a relatively wide frame is required at the bottom of the wing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting functionVSAvoidframe width at bottom
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting rollers are extracted from the wing frame and relocated to a carrier positioned in the stationary frame. This extraction eliminates the need for additional frame width in the moving wing while maintaining the lifting function through the carrier's roller assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A carrier serves as an intermediary element between the stationary frame and the lifting rollers. The carrier houses the lifting rollers in the stationary frame, allowing the lifting function to be achieved without requiring the moving wing to accommodate rollers within its frame structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If accurate positioning of lift rollers relative to inclined tracks is required, then the lifting function is achieved, but significant adjustment work is needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting functionVSAvoidadjustment work
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting mechanism is designed to be self-aligning through the engagement of the C-shaped profile with the T-shaped guide. The geometry of these components automatically positions the carrier and lifting rollers correctly during installation, eliminating the need for precise manual adjustment of roller positioning relative to tracks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The C-shaped and T-shaped profiles utilize asymmetric geometry to ensure proper alignment and engagement. This asymmetric design provides built-in positioning features that guide the components into their correct relative positions automatically, reducing the need for precise manual adjustment during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 reduces adjustment work, eliminates tripping hazards, allows for a more compact and obstacle-free passage, and provides effective sealing and guidance while enabling the sliding door or window to be opened and closed with minimal frame requirements, even in glass designs.

Implementation Method 1

An arrangement of a substantially C-shaped, rubber-elastic profile has proven to be favorable for the guidance at the top of the wing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the support of a roller assembly is provided under the wing with eccentrically mounted lifting rollers to enable them to be lifted. By laterally shifting the carrier and thus the axles of the lifting rollers, these roll off on the runway

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric mounting mechanism: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentEP3608494B1Lifting device for a sliding door or sliding window
Publication Date: 2021.11.24 WENGER FENSTER AG
  • EP3608494B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3608494B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3608494B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6

AI summary

A lifting device that can raise the sash (15) of a sliding door or, analogously, a sliding window from a locked, lowered position to an unlocked position allowing unilateral movement, is characterized by a roller assembly (33) arranged beneath the sash (15). The roller assembly has a horizontally movable support (31) which is supported on roller tracks (49) by eccentrically mounted lifting rollers (35). By moving the support (31), the rollers (35) are rotated about their eccentric axes (37), causing the support (31) to perform a vertical movement. Preferably, a locking assembly is connected to the support (31). It is actuated by the movement of the support (31) and has horizontally displaceable bolts (51) that engage in recesses at the lower edge of the sash (15) in the lowered position.Preferably, the lifting device is supplemented by a double-acting sealing and guiding arrangement on the top of the wing (15) and, more preferably, by motorizing the opening and closing by means of a climate-separated, motor-driven drive wheel (121) that engages the top of the wing (15).