Plug Door Movement Alignment Mechanism for Height Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional plug door devices require significant height space for rotation mechanisms, limiting their size reduction potential.

Innovation Solution

A plug door device design featuring a movement alignment mechanism with stationary shaft members extending in the height direction, rotatable members, and a shaft connecting the transmission shaft members of these rotatable members, allowing for rotation without additional height space, ensuring the front and rear ends of the slidable base move equally and synchronously in the width direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a link rotates around a cooperation shaft extending in the front-rear direction to align movement of the slidable base, then the front and rear ends of the slidable base move synchronously, but a sufficient space in the height direction is required to allow the link to rotate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronized movementVSAvoidheight space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the orientation of the rotation axis from the front-rear direction (horizontal) to the width direction (also horizontal but perpendicular). This dimensional reorientation allows the link to rotate in a different plane, eliminating the need for height space while maintaining the synchronization function. The shaft now extends in the width direction rather than the front-rear direction, fundamentally changing the spatial arrangement.

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

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the shaft extend in the front-rear direction as in conventional designs, the invention inverts this arrangement by having the shaft extend in the width direction. This inversion of the fundamental structural configuration allows the mechanism to achieve the same synchronization purpose without requiring height space, effectively solving the contradiction by reversing the conventional approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Volume of moving object

If the shaft is connected to the middle portion of the transmission shaft members, then the structure is compact, but the shaft cannot move within a wide range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure compactnessVSAvoidmovement range
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention makes the connection position dynamic rather than fixed. The shaft is connected to the transmission shaft members at positions that can vary along their lengths, allowing the connection point to adapt based on operational requirements. This dynamic connection enables the shaft to move within a wide range while maintaining structural compactness, as the connection can shift to optimize both constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the transmission shaft members into multiple sections, with the shaft connected at specific segments rather than the middle portion. This segmentation allows different portions of the transmission shaft members to serve different functions - some sections provide structural support while others allow for movement range. The shaft connects to specific segments that balance compactness with adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4001562A1Plug door device
Publication Date: 2022.05.25 NABTESCO CORP
  • EP4001562A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4001562A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4001562A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A plug door device (1) relating to an embodiment includes a stationary base (3), a slidable base (4) slidable in a width direction relative to the stationary base (3) when acted upon by a driving force from a drive source (6), and a movement alignment mechanism (100, 200, 300) for controlling the front and rear ends of the slidable base (4) in a front-rear direction to move in the width direction toward the same side and by the same amount. The movement alignment mechanism (100, 200, 300) includes two stationary shaft members (101, 251, 301), two rotatable members (102, 202, 302), and a shaft (103, 203, 303). The stationary shaft members (101, 251, 301) are spaced away from each other in the front-rear direction and extend in a height direction. The rotatable members (102, 202, 302) each include a contact arm (111, 211, 311) in contact with the slidable base (4) and a transmission arm (113, 213, 313) having a transmission shaft member (112, 212, 312) spaced away from a corresponding one of the stationary shaft members (101, 251, 301). The contact arm (111, 211, 311) and the transmission arm (113, 213, 313) are rotatable integrally with the corresponding stationary shaft member (101, 251, 301) around the corresponding stationary shaft member (101, 251, 301). The front and rear ends of the shaft (103, 203, 303) are connected to the transmission shaft members (112, 212, 312) of the two rotatable members (102, 202, 302).