Multi-Layer Lifting Gate Spacers to Prevent Insulation Layer Collision

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-speed roller gates in cold storage facilities face issues with insulation layers colliding due to transverse forces when quickly unwound, leading to potential icing and malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of spacers between insulation layers to maintain a defined distance, combined with a thermally insulating winding shaft housing that utilizes waste heat to prevent icing, ensures the door leaf remains ice-free without additional heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the gate is quickly unrolled, then the door leaf layers are rapidly deployed, but the insulation layers swing back and forth and may collide against each other

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor unrolling speedVSAvoidinsulation layer stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A spacer is introduced as an intermediary element between the two insulation layers to maintain a defined distance and prevent collision. The spacer acts as a mediator that ensures the insulation layers remain separated during rapid door unrolling, eliminating the harmful transverse movement while allowing high-speed operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the door leaf layers are spaced apart when closed, then collision is prevented, but additional space and structural complexity are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation layer separationVSAvoiddoor leaf structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer serves as a simple intermediary component that maintains the necessary distance between insulation layers without requiring complex structural modifications. By placing the spacer at specific locations (free ends or intermediate positions), the design achieves reliable layer separation with minimal added complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer can be implemented as discrete segments or elements distributed at strategic positions along the door leaf, rather than requiring continuous separation structures. This segmented approach reduces material usage and structural complexity while effectively preventing layer collision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If the spacer is arranged at the free ends of insulation layers, then collision prevention is achieved with minimal material, but the distance control is limited to specific areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespacer placement simplicityVSAvoiddistance definition coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple spacers can be distributed at different locations along the insulation layers, including free ends and intermediate positions. This segmented placement strategy provides comprehensive distance control across the entire door leaf area while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized spacer components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Prevents collisions between insulation layers and effectively keeps the door leaf ice-free by maintaining a defined distance and utilizing waste heat for thermal insulation, enhancing operational reliability and reducing maintenance needs.

Implementation Method 1

The winding shaft housing can be designed to be thermally insulating by using heat-insulating material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

heat within the winding shaft housing does not have to flow unused through the housing walls to the outside, but can be used specifically to keep the door leaf of the door ice-free

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2987941B1Vertical lifting gate
Publication Date: 2018.07.11 TROODON TORSYST
  • EP2987941B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP2987941B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2987941B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a door, in particular a lifting door, for closing an opening in a wall, in particular in a wall separating two different temperature zones from one another, with a movable, flexible door leaf (22) which comprises several separate, flexible door leaf layers (28a-d), which are guided in such a way that they are spaced apart from one another when the door (10) is closed, and with at least one winding shaft (18, 20) onto which the door leaf (22) can be wound up to open the door (10). The invention is characterized in that two adjacent door leaf layers (28b, c) are connected to one another by at least one spacer (26) which, when the door (10) is in the closed state, provides a distance between the two door leaf layers (28b c) at least in the area of ​​the spacer (26).