Folding Leaf Door Assembly with Groove Undercut Hinge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Folding wing door systems face challenges with thermal insulation due to cold bridges created by hinges and cannot be pre-assembled, limiting their flexibility and application.
Innovation Solution
A folding wing door system design featuring wings with frames having grooves for a hinge body with an undercut, allowing pre-assembly and flexible hinge construction, along with a method that includes inserting a fastening bar into the groove for a positive connection, enabling easy assembly and thermal separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hinges are mounted across the narrow side of the door leaves, then the leaves can be connected to form a folding door system, but thermal bridges are created between the outer surfaces of the door leaves
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge connection is extracted from the narrow side of the door leaves and relocated to the broad side. This allows the hinge mounting flange to be positioned away from the thermal insulation path between outer surfaces, eliminating the thermal bridge while maintaining connection stability through the groove and undercut mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
A groove with undercut is introduced as an intermediary structure between the hinge mounting flange and the door leaf frame. This groove provides a positive-locking connection that secures the hinge while allowing thermal insulation material to be placed within the groove, thereby mediating between the mechanical connection requirement and thermal insulation requirement
2Productivity
If hinges are integrated during leaf manufacturing, then the folding door system can be assembled, but the leaves cannot be pre-assembled and are limited to folding door applications
Solution Approach 1:
The door leaf is segmented into a frame structure with an integrated groove that can be manufactured independently of any hinge components. This allows the leaf to be produced as a standalone unit that can be pre-assembled with filler elements, and only requires attachment of the hinge mounting flange for final assembly, thereby enabling both efficient production and versatile application
Solution Approach 2:
The groove structure with undercut is designed as a universal feature in the door leaf frame that can accommodate different hinge body designs and configurations. The groove provides a standardized interface that works with various hinge types, making the door leaf applicable to folding doors, sliding doors, and other door systems, thereby achieving multi-functionality
3Reliability
If a complex hinge structure is used to secure the hinge body to the leaf, then the connection is stable, but the manufacturing becomes more difficult and costly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire hinge structure complex, only the critical local area where the mounting flange interfaces with the frame is given special geometry - the groove with undercut. This localized complexity provides the necessary positive-locking connection stability while the rest of the hinge structure remains simple and easy to manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The groove with undercut is designed to automatically provide a positive-locking connection when the hinge mounting flange is inserted. The undercut geometry creates mechanical interlocking that secures the hinge body without requiring additional fastening components or complex assembly procedures, allowing the structure to self-secure during installation
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a folding wing door system (1) comprising at least one folding wing door (2, 3) with at least two leaves (24, 25) and at least one hinge body (20, 21) arranged between them, wherein each leaf (24) has a frame (10, 11), wherein the frame (10, 11) has a groove (43) into which a mounting web (44) of the hinge body (20, 21) can be inserted, and wherein the groove (43) and the mounting web (44) have an undercut (55) so that a positive locking connection between frame (10, 11) and hinge body (20, 21) is provided.