Hinged Seals for Window Threshold Gap Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window and door designs with non-protruding thresholds struggle to maintain permanent sealing due to material expansion and contraction, leading to gaps in the area between the lower horizontal beam and the threshold, allowing air and moisture to enter, which is problematic for barrier-free access and weather tightness.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of two spaced-apart hinged seals that move between end positions about an axis at the underside edge of the horizontal beam, with one seal designed to protrude beyond the beam width to form a stop surface, ensuring reliable sealing and accommodating changing gap widths, and optionally supported by springs or a drive device for automatic movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a non-protruding threshold is used for barrier-free access, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of sealing deteriorates due to material expansion and contraction creating gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic sealing elements that can move between different positions. The sealing strip is connected to the sash frame via a hinge, allowing it to pivot between a retracted position (when the sash is open) and a protruding position (when the sash is closed). This dynamic adjustment ensures continuous sealing contact despite threshold height constraints and material dimensional changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing arrangement is divided into multiple independent components: a first sealing strip for the gap between the lower horizontal beam and threshold, and a second sealing strip for the gap between the sash frame and window frame. This segmentation allows each sealing element to independently address specific sealing requirements without interfering with barrier-free access.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a movable sealing arrangement is used to maintain sealing with changing gap widths, then adaptability is improved, but air and moisture penetration increases over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes flexible sealing strips made of elastomeric materials that can deform and conform to varying gap dimensions. These flexible membranes maintain continuous contact with the threshold and frame surfaces, preventing air and moisture infiltration while accommodating thermal expansion and contraction of the building components.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge-connected sealing strip dynamically adjusts its position and contact pressure in response to changing gap widths caused by material expansion and contraction. This dynamic adaptation ensures consistent sealing performance without creating pathways for air and moisture penetration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sealing strip is made elastic to accommodate gap variations, then adaptability is improved, but the sealing reliability deteriorates due to reduced sealing pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic sealing strip is dynamically positioned by the hinge mechanism to ensure optimal contact with the threshold. When the sash frame is in the closed position, the hinge causes the sealing strip to pivot into a position where it protrudes into the gap and contacts the threshold with sufficient pressure, maintaining sealing effectiveness while retaining adaptability to gap width variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism pre-positions the elastic sealing strip in a protruding configuration before the sash frame is fully closed. This preliminary action ensures that the sealing strip is already in contact with the threshold and applying sealing pressure, compensating for the reduced pressure that would result from using only elastic materials.
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
This configuration achieves high sealing values for rain, snow, soundproofing, and wind tightness while allowing unhindered movement of the sash frame, ensuring reliable and permanent sealing without additional actuation effort, and includes drainage features to manage moisture.
Implementation Method 1
two spaced-apart hinged seals (30, 31) which can be moved between two end positions about an axis (A1, A2) running in the area of the underside edge of the horizontal beam (23)
Implementation Method 2
The free end 30a, 31a of the hinged seals 30, 31 facing away from the axis A1 or A2 is designed to be elastic
Implementation Method 3
the corresponding hinged seal is forced into the end position sealing the gap by the projection of the projection striking the fixed vertical post of the window frame
Implementation Method 4
the movement of the hinged seals between their end positions can also be further supported, for example by springs or torsion bars and the like
Implementation Method 5
the movement of the hinged seals between their end positions can also be further supported, for example by springs or torsion bars and the like
Implementation Method 6
a ground sill (12), which has at least one drainage opening (120) in its area that can be delimited by the hinged seals (30, 31), via which any moisture that may occur can be removed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The window or door has a sash attached at a blind frame, which comprises vertical pillars. A movable sealing arrangement is provided for sealing a gap (S) between a horizontal beam (23) and a ground beam (12). Two flap sealing units (30, 31) are provided as the sealing arrangement at a distance from each other. The sealing units are movable between two end positions around axes (A1, A2) that run in an area of a lower sided edge of the horizontal beam, where the gap is sealed in one of the end positions and freed in the other end position for movement of the sash.