Elevator Door Threshold Profiled Guide Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current elevator door thresholds face issues with high maintenance costs, complex production processes, and frequent replacement of plastic sliders due to wear, leading to increased structural complexity and reliability concerns.

Innovation Solution

A threshold design featuring a first profiled element with a groove and two upper profiled elements that are joint-fitted to create a guide for sliding, made from materials like plastic, steel, or aluminum, with a curvilinear projection to integrate anti-friction functionality, reducing the need for separate sliders and simplifying maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If plastic sliders are used in the threshold, then the door leaf can slide smoothly, but the sliders wear out and require periodic replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesliding smoothnessVSAvoidslider durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the separate plastic slider component entirely and integrates the anti-friction function directly into the threshold structure through the profiled element with grooves and gullies. This eliminates the wearable part that needed replacement while maintaining the sliding function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the guiding function and anti-friction function into a single integrated threshold structure. The profiled element with its grooves and gullies performs both guidance and reduces friction, eliminating the need for separate sliders.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Weight of stationary object

If multiple profiled elements in different materials are used, then weight and cost are improved, but production complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethreshold weightVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the threshold into multiple profiled elements (first profiled element with grooves, second profiled element with gully, third profiled element with gully) that can be manufactured separately and then assembled through joint-fitting, simplifying production while maintaining material optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses different materials for different profiled elements based on their specific functional requirements, optimizing both weight and cost while managing production complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of operation

If sliders are fixed to the door leaves, then guided sliding is ensured, but maintenance becomes long and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguided slidingVSAvoidmaintenance time and cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the slider component that was attached to the door leaf and relocates the guiding and anti-friction function to the threshold structure itself, eliminating the need for maintenance of attached components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The threshold structure provides its own guiding and anti-friction function through the integrated profiled elements, eliminating the need for separate maintenance of slider components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Strength

If the threshold components require high production costs, then material quality is improved, but overall cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial qualityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the threshold into separable profiled elements that can be manufactured using standard extrusion processes for each material type, reducing the overall production cost while maintaining high material quality in each component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3747819B1A threshold for door of an elevator
Publication Date: 2021.10.06 WITTUR HLDG GMBH
  • EP3747819B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3747819B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3747819B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A threshold (1) for door of an elevator, comprising: a first profiled element (2) extending mainly in a longitudinal direction and comprising a first upper projecting portion (21) and a second upper projecting portion (22) separated by a groove (23) that is open in an upwards direction; a second profiled element (3) extending mainly in the longitudinal direction and defining a first gully (31), the second profiled element (3) being joint-fitted on the first profiled element (2) in such a way that the first upper projecting portion (21) engages the first gully (31); a third profiled element (4) extending mainly in the longitudinal direction and defining a second gully (41), the third profiled element (4) being joint-fitted on the first profiled element (2) in such a way that the second upper projecting portion (22) engages the second gully (41), said second profiled element (3) and said third profiled element (4) partially penetrating in the groove (23), thus defining a guide for the sliding of a leaf (100) of the door.