Powered Garage Door Zero Hinge Pivot and Hydraulic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing powered garage doors, particularly those with multiple panels that pivot about a stationary axis, face challenges in maintaining water and weatherproofing while being cost-effective and requiring frequent maintenance due to complex hinge systems and lack of efficient control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A powered garage door design featuring a 'zero hinge' structure with a pivot tube and inclinometer-controlled hydraulic actuators, where the top edge moves rearward and the bottom edge moves forward, combined with a graphical user interface for customizable zone sizes and speeds, and a finishing plate system to prevent precipitation entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional piano hinges or series of hinges are used to connect the door panel to the header, then the door can pivot between open and closed positions, but water and precipitation can enter between the header and the top edge of the door panel, and the hinge system requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional piano hinge or series of hinges from the door system, replacing them with a pivot tube that rotates about a stationary pivot axis. This extraction eliminates the complex hinge mechanism while maintaining the essential pivoting function, thereby improving waterproofing reliability and reducing maintenance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the hinge connection at the top surface of the door panel (as in traditional designs), the patent inverts the pivot location to a stationary pivot axis beneath the top edge of the door panel. This inversion allows the top edge to move rearwardly during opening while the bottom edge moves forwardly, creating a sealing action that prevents water entry.
2Power
If hydraulic power cylinders are used to provide opening and closing power, then the door can be operated in aviation, commercial and industrial settings, but the system becomes costly and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes hydraulic power cylinders to provide the necessary opening and closing power for large-scale applications. The hydraulic system is integrated with the pivot tube mechanism, where the cylinders lengthen or shorten to move the door panel between positions, delivering high power output suitable for aviation, commercial, and industrial settings while maintaining system efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If the top edge of the door panel is hinged to the header, then the door can open and close, but precipitation can enter between the header and the top edge of the door panel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional hinging arrangement by placing the pivot axis beneath the top edge of the door panel rather than at the top surface. This inversion changes the motion pattern so that the top edge moves rearwardly while the bottom edge moves forwardly, creating a weather-tight seal that prevents precipitation entry while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical hinge connection with a pivot tube rotating about a stationary pivot axis. This substitution eliminates the gap-prone hinge joint and creates a sealed pivoting mechanism that prevents water entry while maintaining smooth door operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A powered garage door pivots about a fixed pivot axis extending from the one side edge to the other side edge beneath the top edge of the door panel, such that when moving from the closed position to an opened position the top edge moves rearwardly while the bottom edge moves forwardly. A front top header finishing plate is fixed so as to extend downwardly from the header in front of and beneath the top edge of the door panel. An inclinometer sensor is secured to the door panel, sensing the angle of the door panel as it pivots between closed and opened positions. Hydraulic cylinders are controlled by the electronic controller based on the inclinometer signal, and a graphical user interface allows the user to set both zone sizes (based on inclination angle) and zone speeds, independently for opening and closing.