Folding Sliding Panel Dual-Driver Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding sliding walls have a low safety standard, particularly in outdoor applications, due to only one-sided non-positive contact with the floor or ceiling rail, which compromises burglary security.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual-driver locking mechanism where one driver interacts with the adjacent panel element via hinges, and the locking fitting can be locked in the floor or ceiling rail, combined with metal core locking elements and guide sleeves, ensures secure engagement and power transmission, enhancing security without requiring force transmission through hinges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking fitting is provided on only one side of the surface element, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost is lowered, but the burglary security is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a driver as an intermediary component that transmits the locking force from the first surface element to the second surface element. The driver engages with the locking fitting on the first element and transmits force through the hinge to lock the second element, eliminating the need for a separate locking mechanism on the second element while achieving secure locking of both sides
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the locking function for both surface elements into a single locking fitting and driver assembly. By merging the locking actions into one integrated mechanism, the system achieves dual-side security without duplicating the entire locking system, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining high security standards
2Reliability
If force transmission is done through hinges, then the structure is simple, but the bending stresses on hinges increase and security is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the force transmission function from the hinge and relocates it to a dedicated driver component. The driver directly transmits the locking force from the first surface element to the second surface element through engagement with the locking fitting, completely bypassing the hinge for force transmission. This eliminates bending stresses on the hinge while maintaining secure locking
3Reliability
If locking fittings are provided on both adjacent sides of surface elements, then the burglary security is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the first locking fitting serve multiple functions: it directly locks the first surface element and simultaneously acts as a driver to lock the second surface element through force transmission. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate locking mechanism on the second element, achieving dual-side security while reducing the total number of components and manufacturing cost
Data Source
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AI summary
A folding sliding wall (1) consisting of at least two surface elements (2, 2') which are articulated to each other by hinges and which are arranged in a guide consisting of at least one floor rail and a ceiling rail (4), wherein the surface elements (2, 2') can be laterally displaced in the floor and ceiling rail (4) and wherein each surface element (2, 2') consists of a frame (8, 8') having two substantially perpendicular sides with a panel and the frame (8, 8') of at least one first surface element (2) is coupled on one side via fittings, such as carriages, in the floor and ceiling rail (4) and wherein the second side of the first surface element (2) orThe first side of the adjacent second surface element (2'), which is connected to the first surface element (2) via the hinges, is assigned a directly driven locking fitting (7) that can be locked in the floor and/or ceiling track (4) at the bottom and/or top. This fitting is to be further developed to offer a higher security standard with correspondingly higher burglary resistance, while remaining cost-effective to manufacture and easy to operate. To solve this problem, it is proposed that the directly driven locking fitting (7) be assigned at least one driver (14) which interacts with a second driver (14') of the adjacent surface element (2') connected via the hinges, and that the second driver (14') serves as the drive for a locking fitting (7') of the adjacent surface element (2').