Flexible Drive Strip for Overhead Door Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vertically operating doors with overhead storage systems are complex and require numerous parts, with drive strips made of sheet metal that can cause wear and have sharp edges, and do not easily adapt to various storage configurations such as vertical, horizontal, inclined, and coiled positions.

Innovation Solution

A door system with a continuous drive strip that includes spaced projections for engaging a drive gear, allowing the panel to retract onto variously shaped storage tracks without creating loose pieces, and featuring an auto-refeed device with no moving parts for safe breakaway and re-engagement, using flexible materials to balance rigidity and flexibility for different configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If sheet metal drive strips with sharp edges are used, then the drive strip can be rigid enough to push the door, but it causes significant wear on the gear and creates loose pieces during breakaway

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverigidity of drive stripVSAvoidwear on gear and loose pieces

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drive strip material is changed from sheet metal to a flexible material that can be formed with rounded projections. This parameter change in material properties eliminates sharp edges, preventing wear on the gear and avoiding creation of loose pieces during breakaway events while maintaining sufficient rigidity for door operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The drive strip uses a composite construction with a flexible base material and integrated rounded projections. This composite approach combines the flexibility needed to prevent gear wear with the structural integrity required to push the door, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If a complicated collection of numerous parts is used for the drive system, then the door can achieve various overhead configurations, but the device complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverhead storage configurationsVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The simplified drive system with flexible drive strip and rounded projections serves multiple functions: it provides the driving mechanism, allows breakaway safety, enables various overhead configurations, and eliminates the need for separate reattachment mechanisms. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive strip integrates multiple functions into a single component: it combines the driving surface, the flexibility element, and the engagement features into one continuous flexible strip, eliminating the need for numerous separate parts and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the curtain is coupled to the track via a drive strip with individual clips, then the curtain can break away safely, but the mechanism for reattaching the curtain becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreakaway safetyVSAvoidreattachment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible drive strip with rounded projections enables self-service reattachment. After breakaway, the flexible material naturally allows the drive strip to be re-engaged with the track without requiring complex external reattachment mechanisms, as the flexibility itself facilitates easy repositioning and reengagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Adaptability or versatility

If a continuous flexible drive strip is used, then the door can adapt to various storage track configurations, but the drive strip must balance rigidity for pushing with flexibility for bending

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage track configurationsVSAvoidrigidity for pushing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The drive strip uses material and geometric parameter changes to balance rigidity and flexibility. The flexible material with integrated rounded projections provides sufficient rigidity for pushing the door while maintaining the flexibility needed to conform to various storage track configurations, resolving the contradiction between these opposing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8857498B2Track and guide system for a door

Publication Date: 2014.10.14 RITE HITE HLDG CORP

AI summary

A vertically operating door and its drive system can be configured to push a door panel along a track to various overhead storage configurations including vertical, horizontal, inclined and coiled. Semi-flexible drive strips extend continuously along lateral edges of the curtain. The system includes a drive gear that engages a series of projections on at least one drive strip so that the gear can push the door between its open and closed positions. To protect the door from being damaged by collisions, the track can include a breakaway feature that allows at least a portion of the panel with its drive strip to separate from the track without permanent distortion. The drive strip and panel remain together as they break away from the track. The threshold of the breakaway force can be changed by selecting a retention strip from a plurality of interchangeable strips having different degrees of flexibility.