Rail-Free Door Guide Profile With Hardened Bearing Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door systems for public transport vehicles are costly and heavy due to the use of robust guide rails made from steel, requiring significant installation space and assembly effort.

Innovation Solution

The guide rail is eliminated, and the runner is guided directly within a longitudinal profile made of aluminum, with hardened steel bearing elements integrated into the profile to support the runner, reducing weight and cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a guide rail and carriage system is used to maintain parallel motion between cutter heads, then motion parallelism is improved, but the overall structure becomes more complex and the number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion parallelismVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the guide rail and carriage components from the system, replacing them with a direct support structure that holds the cutter heads. This extraction of unnecessary components simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the required motion parallelism through the support structure's rigid geometry and positioning features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure integrates multiple functions: it provides structural support, ensures motion parallelism, and positions the cutter heads. By merging these functions into a single integrated component rather than separate guide rail and carriage assemblies, the patent reduces the number of parts and simplifies the structure while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple separate components are used to support cutter heads, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the number of parts increases and assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure combines positioning features and support functions into an integrated component. The support structure includes built-in positioning features such as ribs, flanges, or machined surfaces that directly locate the cutter heads, eliminating the need for separate positioning components and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a traditional guide rail system is implemented, then motion stability is improved, but the device complexity and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion stabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the guide rail system from the design, replacing it with a simplified support structure that provides motion stability through its rigid construction and precise positioning features. This removal of complex guiding mechanisms reduces device complexity and maintenance requirements while maintaining motion stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4229262B1Door system with linear guide without guide rail
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 BODE - DIE TUR GMBH
  • EP4229262B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4229262B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a guide device (20) for a door system, in particular a sliding or swinging/sliding door system of a public transport vehicle, comprising:- an elongate profile (22) which is made of a first material, is intended for fastening to a door portal and has a guide path (26), which is U-shaped in cross-section and has a bottom surface (28) and two side walls (30) extending at rights angles therefrom,- a runner (24) which at least partially engages in the guide path (26) and is mounted for linear movement in the guide path (26) on rolling bodies (32), wherein - in the guide path (26) there is arranged at least one bearing element (34) which is made of a second material and extends along the guide path (26) and on which bearing element the rolling bodies (26) that support the runner (24) roll when the runner (24) is moving linearly,- the second material of which the bearing element (34) is made is harder than the first material of which the elongate profile (22) is made. Production of a door system of this kind is simple and cost-effective. A low dead weight and low installation space are ensured.