Door And Window Drive With Opposed Motor And Spring Layout

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door drives face inefficiencies due to limited installation space, complex structural connections, high gear ratios, and high cogging torque, leading to increased material costs and reduced power, with components often being nested or intermeshed, resulting in a less powerful and less efficient drive system.

Innovation Solution

A drive design where the motor and energy storage device are positioned on opposite sides of the output shaft, allowing for a compact, separate arrangement of components, with a large helical gear and optimized gear ratios, using inexpensive materials and minimizing intermeshing, thus reducing wear and improving efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the energy storage device is arranged parallel to the motor or gear in the depth of the drive, then the installation space for the gear is limited, but this arrangement allows for a more compact design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive depthVSAvoidgear arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a depth-oriented arrangement (parallel to motor/gear) to a width-oriented arrangement (opposite sides of output shaft along longitudinal axis). This dimensional change allows the energy storage device and motor/gear unit to be separated laterally rather than nested deeply, reducing drive depth while simplifying gear arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If worm or helical gear stages have a few gears and small helical gears, then the drive design is more compact, but drive efficiency becomes very low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive depthVSAvoiddrive efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the gear ratio distribution parameters, specifically reducing the gear ratio of the helical gear stage to 5:1 or less (from conventional higher ratios). This parameter change allows for larger, more efficient gears while maintaining compact overall drive depth through the lateral arrangement of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Volume of stationary object

If the drive has a very long installation space, then more space is available for components, but the drive becomes very wide when mounted on the door

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent spaceVSAvoiddrive width
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the longitudinal dimension (along the door edge) by arranging the energy storage device and motor/gear unit on opposite sides of the output shaft along the longitudinal axis. This transforms the space utilization from width-oriented to length-oriented, allowing adequate component space without increasing drive width.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Device complexity

If the output shaft and energy storage unit are offset from each other, then the drive can accommodate component layout, but bending moments act on the cage or housing and the drive's tie rod

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent layout flexibilityVSAvoidbending moments
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric arrangement where the energy storage device and motor/gear unit are positioned on opposite sides of the output shaft along the longitudinal axis, creating a balanced force distribution. This asymmetric yet balanced layout provides layout flexibility while minimizing bending moments through force equilibrium.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

5Power

If the worm gear stage has a high gear ratio greater than 8, then the drive achieves high reduction, but very high forces act on the helical gear that connects to the worm gear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegear reduction ratioVSAvoidforces on helical gear
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the gear ratio parameter of the helical gear stage to 5:1 or less, significantly reducing it from conventional high ratios (>8). This parameter change distributes the mechanical load more favorably, reducing forces on the helical gear while maintaining adequate overall reduction through the complete gear train.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

6Reliability

If the motor has high cogging torque, then the motor can hold position well, but more resistance occurs when the door is closed against the energy storage device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding torqueVSAvoidresistance during door closing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the energy storage device on the opposite side of the output shaft from the motor, allowing the spring to be pre-compressed or pre-tensioned in advance. This preliminary action stores energy that assists in overcoming the motor's cogging torque during door closing, reducing the resistance and energy loss during this operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The drive achieves higher efficiency, reduced wear, and lower costs by optimizing component placement and using less expensive materials, while maintaining a compact and powerful design.

Implementation Method 1

an energy storage device (20), in particular a spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP4632184A1Drive for a door or window with improved operating wheel
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 GEZE GMBH
  • EP4632184A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4632184A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4632184A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a drive for operating a movable leaf, in particular a door or a window, comprising a housing with a longitudinal axis, wherein the housing has a first housing side running along the longitudinal axis and a second housing side running along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first housing side is designed to be arranged facing the leaf and the second housing side is designed to be arranged facing away from the leaf, a motor, a gear unit comprising a helical gear stage with a worm and a helical gear, wherein the worm and the helical gear are meshingly engaged, a first spur gear stage with a first spur gear and a second spur gear stage with a second spur gear, for driving an output shaft, and an energy storage device, wherein the motor and the energy storage device are arranged in the housing in such a way thatthat they are located along the longitudinal axis of the housing on opposite sides of the output shaft. A first straight line, which intersects the longitudinal axis of the output shaft and runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, is arranged between the longitudinal axis of the worm gear and a second straight line, which intersects the longitudinal axis of the helical gear and runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing.