Guide Carriage and Concealed Hinge for Space-Saving Sliding Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing displacement devices for slidable and turnable separation elements, such as those in wardrobes and kitchens, require significant space and mechanical effort to operate, and often require visible bezels or covers, limiting their universality and aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
A displacement device featuring a guide carriage with support and guide wheels that allows separation elements to be moved and turned along a running rail with minimal force, requiring little space and no visible components, using a concealed hinge mechanism and adjustable design to ensure smooth operation and secure alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If guide tracks and guide carriages are arranged at both upper and lower sides of the functional entity, then the separation elements can be securely guided and moved, but the device requires significant space and specific embodiment of the functional entity, limiting its universality
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the guidance function from the traditional dual-rail system (upper and lower tracks) and consolidates it into a single running rail with integrated guidance features. The guide carriage derives its stability from the rail's asymmetric cross-section and the carriage's specific geometry, eliminating the need for separate upper and lower guide tracks while maintaining secure guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The running rail is designed with an asymmetric cross-section that combines multiple functions: it provides running surfaces for the support wheel, guidance for the guide wheels through side-facing surfaces, and structural support. This multi-functional design allows the same rail structure to perform guidance, support, and positioning functions that previously required separate components, thereby increasing universality.
2Reliability
If traditional displacement devices are used to move separation elements into the door compartment, then the separation elements can be securely held and moved, but visible bezels or covers are required, limiting aesthetic appeal
Solution Approach 1:
The guide carriage is designed to be received within the door compartment when the separation element is in the open position. The carriage nests into the door compartment space, and the running rail is integrated into the door compartment structure, allowing these mechanical components to be hidden from external view while remaining functional, thus eliminating the need for visible bezels or covers.
3Ease of operation
If separation elements are designed to be foldable and movable, then the functional entity can be freely accessed when open, but significant mechanical effort and space are required to operate the displacement device
Solution Approach 1:
The support wheel is positioned to engage with the lower running surface of the asymmetric rail cross-section, providing a counterbalancing support force that offsets the weight of the separation element. This arrangement creates a lever effect where the separation element's weight is partially counterbalanced by its own geometry and the wheel-rail interaction, reducing the force required to move the element.
4Ease of operation
If multiple guide wheels and support wheels are used to ensure smooth operation, then the separation elements can be moved with minimal force, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide carriage integrates multiple wheel components (support wheel and guide wheels) into a single unified structure that attaches to the separation element at one location. Rather than having separate mechanisms for support and guidance, the carriage combines these functions in one assembly, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall device while maintaining smooth operation.
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
Enables easy, one-handed operation of separation elements with minimal force, reducing noise and mechanical stress, while maintaining secure holding and adjustable alignment, and can be used in various functional entities without additional space or visible components.
Implementation Method 1
The carriage head holds at least one support wheel (26) and at least two guide wheels (29)
Implementation Method 2
the two guide wheels (29) are guided in a running direction along the running rail (4)
Implementation Method 3
The carriage foot (22) is connected torque proof with a first end piece of a hinge lever (32), whose second end piece is pivotally held by a hinge shaft (35)
Implementation Method 4
The running rail (4) has an asymmetrical cross-section, which comprises a rail plate (41) that is facing the outside of the functional entity (5)
Data Source
AI summary
The displacement device includes a guide carriage that is slidable along a running rail and that is pivotally connectable to a first separation element. The guide carriage includes a carriage body with a carriage head and a carriage foot, which carriage head and carriage foot are connected with one another by a connecting beam, wherein the carriage head holds at least one support wheel and at least two guide wheels and wherein the carriage foot is connected torque proof with a first end piece of a hinge lever, whose second end piece is pivotally held by a hinge shaft that is connectable to a sidewall of the first separation element.