Gate Motion Transmission Device with Integrated Drive Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current motor-driven gates face issues with increased overall dimensions, rapid wear due to weather conditions, and stability problems, particularly with the vertical uprights inclining over time, which affects the leaf's ability to close correctly and requires complex adjustments in the motion transmission means.

Innovation Solution

A motion transmission device with a ring-shaped body and separable annular portions that can be securely fastened to the vertical upright of the gate, allowing direct connection of the drive unit to the leaf, reducing overall dimensions and ensuring precise and stable operation by integrating the transmission mechanism within the upright.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the drive unit is positioned along the vertical upright and protruding from the upright, then the connection between drive unit and leaf is simple, but the overall dimensions of the gate increase and the structure is subjected to rapid wear due to weather conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection simplicityVSAvoidoverall dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The drive unit is positioned inside the vertical upright (nested within the structural element), with the upright serving as both a support and a housing for the drive mechanism. This nesting approach reduces the overall external dimensions while maintaining operational simplicity, as the drive unit remains directly connected to the leaf through the upright without requiring additional external transmission components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Shape

If the drive unit is positioned inside the uprights, then the appearance is improved and covering of the drive unit is greater, but the connection between drive unit and leaf becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveappearanceVSAvoidconnection difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The vertical upright serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the gate, houses the drive unit, and acts as the transmission element connecting the drive unit to the leaf. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate transmission components, making the connection between the drive unit and leaf straightforward despite the drive unit being positioned inside the upright for aesthetic purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Shape

If the drive unit is located at the upper end of the upright, then the appearance is improved, but complex transmission means such as vertical shaft with meshing system are required

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveappearanceVSAvoidtransmission complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the transmission function from complex mechanical systems (vertical shafts with meshing gears) and replaces it with a direct connection mechanism. The drive unit at the upper end of the upright connects directly to the leaf through a simplified transmission element, eliminating the need for complex intermediate transmission components while maintaining the aesthetic advantage of upper-positioned drive units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Shape

If complex transmission means are used to connect drive unit at upper end of upright to leaf, then the drive unit can be positioned for aesthetic purposes, but the system is not able to guarantee perfect and precise movement of the leaf over time due to continuous twisting

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveappearanceVSAvoidmovement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the drive unit positioned at the upper end of the upright, the upright itself as a rigid transmission element, and the connection point at the leaf. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function optimally without introducing continuous twisting, as the upright acts as a rigid conduit that maintains its orientation and prevents rotational deformation during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4092242B1A motion transmission device for motor-driven gates
Publication Date: 2023.09.13 F LLI MANNORI DI MANNORI SIMONE E MARCO
  • EP4092242B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4092242B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4092242B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described is a motion transmission device for gates (1) comprising a load-bearing frame (2) having a vertical upright (3) fixed to a treadable surface (P); a leaf (4) articulated with a relative vertical upright (5) to the vertical upright (3) of the frame (2) and a drive unit (6) associated with the vertical upright (3) of the frame (2) and equipped with means (7) for transmitting motion to the leaf (4) which is able to rotate the leaf (4) from a closed position of a passage opening to an open position of the passage opening and vice versa, wherein the motion transmission means (7) comprise a body (8) consisting of a first box-shaped portion (9) which can be associated with the vertical upright (3) of the frame (2) and having at least one through seat (10) for housing a rotary unit (11) configured to connect to the drive unit (6) and a second annular portion (12) configured to form a seat (13) for coupling with a stretch of the vertical upright (5) of the leaf (4); the second annular portion (12) is equipped with a device (14) for transmitting a rotary movement which can be associated with the stretch of the vertical upright (5) of the leaf (4); this transmission device (14) is connected by a kinematic mechanism with the rotary unit (11) to allow the passage of the motion from the drive unit (6) to the vertical upright (5) of the leaf (5). [Figure 1]