Gate Leaf End Cap Profile for Barrier-Free Ground Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door seals fail to provide effective sealing and support for gate leaves, especially when the underlying surface is uneven or contains obstacles, and they do not meet the requirements for barrier-free access.
Innovation Solution
A profiled end cap with sloping sides and narrow contact surfaces is designed for the underside of gate leaves, featuring a low height, high stability, and a secure seal, with mounting channels and recesses for secure attachment and sealing elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional door seal is used that rests flat on the ground, then it provides sealing, but it creates gaps when the surface is uneven or contains obstacles and prevents barrier-free access
Solution Approach 1:
The end cap features sloping sides instead of a flat bottom surface, creating a chamfered geometry that allows the seal to adapt to uneven surfaces and obstacles while maintaining contact. This curved/angled approach enables the seal to bridge gaps and obstacles without creating trip hazards, thus providing both reliable sealing and barrier-free access.
2Ease of operation
If the end cap height is reduced to ensure barrier-free access, then accessibility improves, but the moment of resistance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The end cap is made from lightweight metal with optimized cross-sectional geometry, combining material properties with structural design to achieve high moment of resistance despite low height. The profiled construction with specific geometric distribution of material provides the necessary structural strength while maintaining the low profile required for barrier-free access.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing height to improve moment of resistance, the solution optimizes the cross-sectional geometry and material distribution in the horizontal dimensions. The profiled end cap with its specific cross-sectional shape achieves the required structural performance through optimized dimensional distribution rather than simply increasing overall height.
3Manufacturing precision
If the contact surfaces are made narrow to ensure only contact surfaces touch the ground, then sealing precision improves, but the contact area with ground decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The end cap features localized contact surfaces with specific geometric characteristics that concentrate contact precisely where needed for sealing, while the sloping sides distribute the load appropriately. This localized optimization of contact geometry ensures precise sealing without requiring large contact areas, achieving high sealing precision with minimal contact footprint.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a closing element (1) for connection to a gate leaf from below, wherein the closing element (1) is designed as a profile, wherein the closing element (1) is provided on its underside in its longitudinal extent with two projecting bearing surfaces (6), the widths of which, in relation to the total width of the closing element (1), are essentially between 2.5% and 5% or between 2.5% and 15% or between 2% and 25%.