Automotive Pit Covering Element With Vertical Gathering Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing covering elements for automotive workshop pits are complex to install on existing pits and reduce the useful length of the pit due to storage methods, lacking in reliability and safety, and requiring additional elements for installation.
Innovation Solution
A covering element with sliding guides at the longitudinal edges, featuring gathering guides that allow bars to fall into swags for easy gathering, utilizing motor-actuated pinions and chain links, and positioning gathering rollers at wider intervals for efficient length usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If supporting guides with narrower width are used to allow bars to fall downwardly for gathering, then the gathering function is enabled, but the useful length of the pit is excessively reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the guiding system by providing guide portions that extend vertically downward from the longitudinal guides. This allows the bars to fall downwardly into the gathering region while maintaining the useful length of the pit, as the vertical guides prevent lateral displacement during the falling motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses guide portions as intermediary elements between the longitudinal guides and the gathering region. These guide portions mediate the transition of bars from the horizontal guiding path to the vertical falling motion, enabling the gathering function without requiring a reduction in the useful length of the pit.
2Ease of operation
If complex guiding systems with multiple guides are installed to enable shutter gathering, then the gathering function is achieved, but the installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the longitudinal guides and the guide portions into a single integrated guiding system. The guide portions are positioned at the ends of the longitudinal guides and form a continuous guiding path, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the installation process while maintaining the gathering function.
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal guides serve multiple functions: they guide the bars during movement, support the guide portions, and maintain the structural integrity of the system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby reducing installation complexity.
3Reliability
If additional guiding elements are provided to ensure reliability and safety, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides guide portions that extend vertically downward from the longitudinal guides, creating a controlled path for the bars during the gathering process. This beforehand cushioning through the guide portions ensures reliable and safe operation by preventing uncontrolled movement, while the simplicity of the guide portion design avoids adding excessive complexity.
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
Facilitates easy installation on existing pits, enhances reliability and safety, and increases the useful longitudinal extension of the pit by allowing bars to fall into swags, enabling efficient length usage and modular assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the supporting guides have a narrower width than the longitudinal guides so that they do not offer support for the sliding rollers, and thus they allow the respective bars to fall downwardly
Implementation Method 2
a shutter covering made from a plurality of bars that are arranged mutually side by side and are joined by chain links that support pins
Data Source
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AI summary
A covering element (1) for pits of automotive workshops or the like, which comprises a shutter covering (2) that can be arranged in a gathering region (10) and which has a plurality of bars (3) that can slide along a pair of lateral sliding guides (4) that are arranged at the longitudinal edges of a pit (5); at the gathering region (10) and proximate to the ends (4a) of the lateral sliding guides (4) respective guide portions (6) are provided that are substantially vertical and open downwardly; the covering element (1) comprises, further, a pair of gathering guides (7) that are arranged at the lateral sides of the gathering region (10) below the open ends (6a) of the substantially vertical guides (6) and which extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal ends of the lateral sliding guides (4), a plurality of gathering bodies (8) being provided that are associated with some of the sliding bars (3) which are mutually spaced apart along the longitudinal extension of the shutter covering (2), the gathering guides (7) being capable of being engaged only by the gathering bodies (8), with the bars (3) that are not associated with the gathering bodies (8) being arrangeable in laterally adjacent swags.