Pivotal Fitting for Folding Wall Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding sliding wall designs face issues with bulky and heavy fittings that break the seal, allowing air, water, and smoke penetration, and require complex assembly, which complicates the use of materials and assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A fitting design where the bolt is centrally arranged between individual elements, allowing for a third pivoting plane, enabling the individual elements to pivot independently and maintain a continuous seal, with the option to block pivoting after installation, reducing weight-induced moments and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a C-shaped fitting is attached to the outside of the frame to receive the bolt, then the fitting can accommodate the bolt and connect to the carriage, but the seal at the front sides of the frames is broken, allowing air, water, and smoke penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting is nested within the frame structure rather than attached externally. The fitting receives the bolt and is integrated into the frame's internal space, allowing the seal to remain continuous on the external surface while the fitting performs its function internally.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting acts as an intermediary element that transfers the bolt load from the carriage to the frame without compromising the seal. It provides a mechanical connection path that bypasses the need for external attachments that would break the seal.
2Ease of manufacture
If the fitting is attached on the visible side of the frame, then the bolt can be received, but the symmetrical overall view changes and the design becomes bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting is extracted from the external visible surface and repositioned to the internal or rear side of the frame. This removes the visual bulk and maintains aesthetic appearance while preserving the functional capability of receiving and securing the bolt.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attaching the fitting externally as in conventional designs, the fitting is positioned internally or on the opposite side of the frame from where the bolt approaches, inverting the conventional attachment approach to achieve both aesthetic and functional goals.
3Force
If the fitting is attached to the end face of the frame with a projection, then the weight can be transferred to the carriage, but the seal is weakened and cold bridges form
Solution Approach 1:
The weight transfer mechanism is moved from a two-dimensional end-face projection to a three-dimensional internal positioning within the frame. The fitting is positioned within the frame's depth, allowing weight transfer through the frame structure without creating surface interruptions that would cause thermal bridging.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting serves multiple functions: it receives the bolt, transfers weight to the carriage, and maintains seal integrity simultaneously. By integrating these functions into a single internal component, the design eliminates the need for separate projections that would compromise thermal performance.
4Reliability
If longer retaining pins are used to accommodate the C-shaped fitting, then the fitting can be secured to the hinge, but the assembly becomes more complex and requires force-fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting design parameters are changed to eliminate the need for excessive length and force-fitting. The fitting is designed with optimal dimensions that allow standard retaining pins to suffice, and the connection geometry is modified to enable straightforward assembly without force-fitting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting is designed as a modular component with distinct functional segments that simplify assembly. The fitting may be divided into sections that can be assembled in a logical sequence, reducing overall assembly complexity compared to a monolithic C-shaped design requiring force-fitting.
Data Source
AI summary
In a folding sliding wall (1), consisting of at least one individual element (2, 3, 4) and/or several individual elements (2, 3, 4), which may be articulated to one another by hinges (), and arranged in a frame (5) consisting of at least one bottom track (6) and a top track (7), wherein each individual element (2, 3, 4) or the connected individual elements (2, 3, 4) can be laterally displaced in the frame (5) and each individual element (2, 3, 4) consists of a frame (21) with a panel (22) and the frames (21) of the individual elements (2, 3, 4) are coupled via fittings (16) to carriages (17) in the bottom track (6) and/or top track (7) and that the fitting (16) is designed to receive the bolt (18) on the end face (10, 11, 15) of the frame (21) of the individual elements (2, 3, 4) 3, 4) is fastened, the longitudinal axis (25) of the fitting (16) and the longitudinal axis (28) of the bolt (26) are identical.