Modular Screen Member Gas Spring Height Adjustment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing screen panels for demarcating outdoor spaces are inefficient as they require seasonal dismantling and reassembly to adjust for wind protection, leading to excessive heating in dry seasons and high manual effort for height adjustment.

Innovation Solution

A modular screen member with a fixed lower panel and an upper panel that slides using gas springs, allowing for easy height adjustment with minimal effort and no dismantling, featuring a lower panel with a rectangular frame and an upper panel with a frame shape that encloses a transparent sheet, enabling positioning at various heights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If screen panels are made as single large elements for effective wind protection, then wind protection effectiveness is improved, but excessive heating occurs during dry season due to greenhouse effect and poor air circulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewind protection effectivenessVSAvoidexcessive heating
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The screen panel is divided into two separate elements: a fixed base element and a movable upper element. This segmentation allows the upper element to be removed during dry season, eliminating the greenhouse effect and poor air circulation problems while maintaining wind protection when both elements are assembled together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If screen panels are made as single large elements, then wind protection is effective, but complete dismantling and reinstallation is required for seasonal adjustment which is inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewind protection effectivenessVSAvoidseasonal adjustment convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the screen into fixed base element and movable upper element, the system allows partial removal of only the upper element for seasonal adjustment, eliminating the need to dismantle and reassemble the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The upper element is designed to be movable relative to the base element through sliding and lifting mechanisms, enabling dynamic adjustment between assembled and separated states for seasonal changes, rather than being fixed in one position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If vertical sliding type screens with lateral pulley systems and counterweights are used to avoid dismantling, then height adjustment is possible, but considerable manual effort is required by the user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustment capabilityVSAvoidmanual effort required
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Gas springs are used as counterweight mechanisms to balance the weight of the upper element, reducing the manual effort required for lifting and lowering operations. The gas springs provide upward force to counteract gravity, making height adjustment effortless.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

Gas springs (pneumatic devices) are employed to provide the counterbalancing force needed for height adjustment, replacing mechanical pulley systems and manual counterweights with a more efficient pneumatic mechanism that requires minimal user effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

4Reliability

If interchangeable upper and lower elements are used for seasonal adjustment, then wind protection can be optimized, but partial dismantling and reassembling of structure is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewind protection optimizationVSAvoiddismantling and reassembly operations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The screen is segmented into a fixed base element and a movable upper element that can be independently removed or assembled. This segmentation simplifies seasonal adjustment to a single-element operation rather than requiring dismantling and reassembly of multiple components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The upper element is designed with movable connections (sliding and lifting mechanisms) that allow it to be easily attached to and detached from the base element, reducing the complexity of seasonal adjustments compared to fixed or multi-component interchangeable systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 rapid and effortless height adjustment of the screen panels, reducing manual labor and eliminating the need for seasonal dismantling, while maintaining effective wind protection and easy maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

coupled with the base element, and which can be positioned at different heights in relation thereto, under the action of or in contrast with gas springs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas springs: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2395167B8Modular screen member
Publication Date: 2015.08.19 STAR PROGETTI TECH APPLICATE

AI summary

A description is given of a modular screen member (1) for a sectional structure for demarcation of outside spaces, comprising a base element (2) and an upper element (3), each one made up of a respective frame (4, 6) enclosing a corresponding panel (5, 7), the frame (20) of the upper element being housed in seats (13) of the frame (10) of the lower element, so as to be able to slide vertically with the aid of or in contrast with gas springs (30) housed in said seats (13).