Guide Carriage Hinge Mechanism for Compact Turning Partitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing displacement devices for slidable and turnable separation elements require significant space and mechanical effort, are noisy, and often require visible bezels or covers, limiting their universal application and aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
A compact 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, hidden from view, and adaptable for various functional entities without additional space requirements, using a hinge mechanism and optional motorized drive for efficient operation.
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 firmly guided and moved, but significant space is required and the device cannot be universally applied
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the guiding function from a complex dual-rail system and concentrates it into a single running rail with an integrated profile. The rail plate with guiding surfaces for both support wheels and guide wheels is incorporated into one compact structure, eliminating the need for separate upper and lower guide tracks while maintaining reliable guidance
Solution Approach 2:
The running rail is designed as a universal component that can be applied to various functional entities regardless of their specific embodiment. The integrated rail structure with multiple guiding surfaces serves multiple functions simultaneously, making the displacement device adaptable to different applications without requiring custom guide track arrangements
2Adaptability or versatility
If a compact displacement device is used, then space requirements are reduced and aesthetic appeal is improved, but the separation elements may not be firmly held
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage body is segmented into distinct functional zones: the carriage head with support wheel and guide wheels for movement control, the connecting beam for structural support, and the carriage foot with hinge lever for secure attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function efficiently within a compact overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the guiding functions of support wheels and guide wheels into a single integrated running rail structure. The rail plate provides both support surfaces and guiding surfaces in one component, combining multiple functions that would traditionally require separate structures, thereby achieving compactness without sacrificing holding firmness
3Device complexity
If manual operation is used, then the device is simple and requires no power source, but significant mechanical effort is required to move the separation elements
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user's manual input and the separation element. The support wheel rolling on the running rail provides mechanical advantage, reducing the effort required to move the separation element compared to direct manual handling. The hinge lever and connecting beam transmit and amplify the applied force efficiently
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 smooth, quiet operation of separation elements with minimal mechanical stress, requiring little effort and no visible device components, allowing universal application in various functional entities like wardrobes and kitchens, with secure holding and adjustable features for precise alignment.
Implementation Method 1
The guide carriage (2) is provided with a carriage head (23) that holds at least one support wheel (26) and at least two guide wheels (29)
Implementation Method 2
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) that is connectable to a sidewall of the first separation element (5A)
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.