Articulated Sliding Gate Wheel Mount for Anti-Derailment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing anti-derailment systems for articulated sliding gates require a tubular upright to house a piston element, helical spring, and abutment, making installation labor-intensive and expensive, and are limited to gates with suitable dimensions, and cannot be retrofitted to existing gates without modifications.

Innovation Solution

A sliding gate system with a wheel-holder element connected to a bearing body via a hinging means and elastic push means, allowing wheels to adapt to guide deformations, ensuring continuous contact with the guide and preventing derailment without needing a tubular upright.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a piston element with helical spring and abutment is installed inside a tubular upright to prevent derailment, then the anti-derailment function is improved, but the device complexity and installation cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-derailment functionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the wheel from the tubular upright structure and positions it externally on the lower stretch of the upright. The wheel is mounted on a pivot pin that allows it to rotate freely, eliminating the need for complex internal housing while maintaining the anti-derailment function through the wheel's external contact with the guide rail

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of housing the wheel inside the tubular upright as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the arrangement by mounting the wheel externally on the lower stretch of the upright. This inversion simplifies the structure by removing the need for internal piston and spring mechanisms while achieving the same safety function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a tubular upright is required to house the piston and spring mechanism, then the anti-derailment system functions properly, but the ease of manufacture and installation deteriorates due to labor-intensive work

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-derailment functionVSAvoidinstallation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel is extracted from the tubular upright interior and mounted externally, eliminating the need for complex assembly operations inside the upright. This allows for much simpler installation that does not require specialized labor or time-consuming assembly procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The conventional approach of installing components inside the tubular upright is inverted by mounting the wheel externally. This inversion transforms a complex, labor-intensive installation process into a simple operation that can be performed quickly and easily

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the anti-derailment system uses a piston element inside the upright, then the wheel can be pushed down to maintain contact with the rail, but the ease of repair deteriorates as wheels cannot be easily removed or replaced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewheel contact with railVSAvoidwheel replacement ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel is extracted from the enclosed tubular upright structure and mounted externally on the lower stretch. This external mounting allows the wheel to be easily accessed, removed, and replaced without requiring disassembly of the upright or specialized tools, significantly improving maintenance ease

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of enclosing the wheel inside the upright where it is difficult to access for repair, the invention inverts the arrangement by mounting the wheel externally. This makes the wheel easily accessible for maintenance operations while still providing the necessary downward force to maintain rail contact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Reliability

If the anti-derailment system is designed with specific dimensional requirements for the upright, then the piston and spring can be housed properly, but the adaptability to different gate configurations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-derailment functionVSAvoidadaptability to different gates
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel is extracted from the tubular upright interior, eliminating the need for specific dimensional requirements for housing the mechanism. This allows the system to be adapted to various upright sizes and gate configurations without being constrained by internal space requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The external wheel mounting design creates a universal solution that can be applied to different gate types and configurations. The wheel assembly can be mounted on various upright dimensions and gate structures, making the anti-derailment system highly adaptable and versatile across different applications

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

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides easy installation, effective anti-derailment, and adaptability to existing gates, reducing installation costs and complexity while ensuring safe operation.

Implementation Method 1

elastic push means for pushing the wheel-holder element to rotate around the second axis so that the rest and sliding wheel moves away from the bearing body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

hinging means for the rotatable constraint of the wheel-holder element with respect to the bearing body around a second axis of rotation X2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3947884B1Articulated sliding gate and ground sliding device for articulated sliding gates
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 F A C SRL
  • EP3947884B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3947884B1 patent drawingFigure 2~2a
  • EP3947884B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to an articulated sliding gate (10), comprising: - an articulated barrier (11), comprising at least two sections (11a, 11b) mutually articulated with hinging means with vertical axis (Y); - a plurality of rest and sliding wheels (12, 13) for the articulated barrier (11), said rest and sliding wheels (12, 13) being connected to a respective section (11a, 11b) each by means of a wheel-holder element (15) and by means of push means of the wheel-holder element (15) towards a sliding guide (14); - a sliding guide (14) for the rest and sliding wheels (12, 13). The push means of a wheel-holder element (15) comprise: - a bearing body (16) constrained to a lower portion of a section (11a, 11b); - hinging means (17) for the rotatable constraint of the wheel-holder element (15) with respect to the bearing body (16) around an axis of rotation (X2) parallel to the axis of rotation (X1) of the wheel (12, 13); - elastic push means (18) configured to push the wheel-holder element (15) to rotate around the axis of rotation (X2) so that the rest and sliding wheel (12, 13) moves away from the bearing body (16). The bearing body (16) is constrained to the lower portion of a section (11a, 11 b) with rotatable constraint means (80) with vertical axis.