Edge Protection Device Parallel Steering Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing edge protection devices for movable objects, such as sliding doors or elevator doors, experience relative movement in height when mounted, leading to installation complexities and potential safety hazards due to displacement, which complicates parallel alignment and stability.
Innovation Solution
The edge protection device employs a parallel steering mechanism using connecting elements that maintain the edge protection strip at the same height as the edge, ensuring no relative displacement in height, facilitating installation and enhancing stability through a structurally advantageous design with flexible connection options and spring mechanisms for controlled movement and force distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If straight guide rods parallel to the edge are used to attach the edge protection strip, then the edge protection strip is guided parallel to the edge, but the edge protection strip experiences relative movement in height corresponding to the length of the guide rods, causing displacement up or down
Solution Approach 1:
The guide mechanism is divided into two functional components: guide rods for horizontal parallel guidance and leveling elements for vertical height adjustment. This segmentation allows each component to address a specific aspect of the alignment problem independently, resolving the contradiction between maintaining parallel alignment and preventing height displacement.
Solution Approach 2:
Leveling elements are introduced as intermediary components between the guide rods and the edge protection strip. These leveling elements act as mediators that absorb and compensate for height differences, ensuring that the edge protection strip remains at the correct height while still being guided parallel to the edge by the guide rods.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the edge protection strip is offset parallel to the edge (raised or lowered), then parallel guidance is achieved, but dangerous spots are created and installation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The leveling elements ensure that the edge protection strip maintains the same height level as the edge throughout its movement, creating an equipotential condition in the vertical direction. This eliminates height offsets that would create dangerous spots, while the guide rods maintain parallel guidance in the horizontal direction, thus resolving the contradiction between parallel guidance and safety.
3Stability of the object's composition
If torsion-resistant connection means are used for the scissors, then structural stability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scissors are designed to operate within specific angular parameters (opening angles between 3° and 20° in the initial position) that optimize their mechanical performance. By controlling the operational parameters rather than simply increasing material strength, the design achieves sufficient structural stability with lighter materials, resolving the contradiction between stability and weight.
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
This solution simplifies installation, ensures parallel alignment, and provides stable and durable edge protection with controlled force application, effectively preventing injuries by maintaining the edge protection strip at the same height as the edge, thus ensuring safety and ease of construction.
Implementation Method 1
springs for moving the edge protection strip 3 back into its starting position
Implementation Method 2
The two connecting elements 10', 10'' are designed as scissors 4a, 4b which are pivotably connected to one another in a relatively outer terminal position
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to an edge protection device (1) to be mounted onto the edges (2) of mobile objects, especially sliding doors or the like, as a protection against colliding or jamming, in order to prevent injury in the event of the edge (2) hitting an obstacle. Said device comprises: an edge protection strip (3) which is arranged at a distance from the edge (2) in the position of use, means (4a, 4b, 4c, ...) for fixing the edge protection strip (3) to the edge (2), and detection means for detecting a movement of the edge protection strip (3) towards the edge (2), in which case optionally the movement of the edge (2) is stopped. The invention is characterised in that the means (4a, 4b, 4c, ...) have a concertina-type structure and are coupled to each other by means of a parallel guiding mechanism in such a way that they move in parallel, the edge protection strip (3) being displaced exclusively vertically towards the edge (2), maintaining the parallelism in relation to the edge (2).