Folding Device Adjusting Strip Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Folding devices, such as bi-folding glass doors, face challenges in maintaining a continuous seal due to manufacturing and mounting tolerances, which can lead to gaps at transition locations between panels and guide rails, despite the use of adjustable strips to compensate for these tolerances.
Innovation Solution
The adjusting strip is designed with a sealing contact surface aligned with the sealing plane between panels and the peripheral frame, allowing it to maintain its sealing position and shape independently of spacing changes relative to the lateral frame part, ensuring a continuous and seamless seal that extends monolithically around the entire peripheral frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an adjusting strip is provided to compensate for manufacturing and mounting tolerances, then the adaptability to tolerance variations is improved, but the continuity of the sealing action deteriorates due to gaps at transition locations
Solution Approach 1:
A seal element is introduced as an intermediary component between the adjusting strip and the guide rail. This seal element bridges the gap created by the adjustable positioning of the adjusting strip, ensuring continuous sealing action while allowing the adjusting strip to compensate for manufacturing and mounting tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system is divided into separate functional components: the adjusting strip for tolerance compensation, the seal element for continuous sealing, and the guide rail for structural support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the overall sealing continuity.
2Reliability
If voluminous seals are used to ensure continuous sealing at transition locations, then the reliability of sealing is improved, but the aesthetic appearance and frame slimness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible seal element in the form of a thin film or shell is used to provide continuous sealing at transition locations. This flexible seal maintains reliable sealing action while having a slim profile that preserves the aesthetic appearance and slimness of the frame structure.
3Reliability
If the seal is made changeable for each adjustment of the adjusting strip, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the ease of operation and installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seal element is designed to automatically adapt and maintain continuous sealing contact as the adjusting strip is positioned to compensate for tolerances. The seal element self-adjusts to the position of the adjusting strip without requiring manual intervention or replacement, maintaining sealing reliability while simplifying installation and adjustment operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A folding device as room closure has a frame and a chain of panels arranged therein. The panels are pivotably connected by alternate first and second hinge arrangements and foldable from a stretched-out closed position into an open accordion fold arrangement. First hinge arrangements are guided on guide rails of the frame; second hinge arrangements are deflected away from the frame. In the closed position, the panels are sealed relative to each other and to the frame by frame seals extending at least partially along a sealing plane. An adjusting strip in front of a lateral frame part is adjustable to adjust a spacing between adjustable strip and lateral frame part for spatial adaption to an adjacent panel. The adjusting strip has a sealing contact surface aligned with the sealing plane and resting against a seal arranged on the lateral frame part and extending into the guide rails.