Ramp Gate Sealing Structure for Low-Heat-Loss Closure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ramp gates exhibit unsatisfactory thermal separation between the inside and outside, primarily due to large manufacturing tolerances in the channels guiding the lateral edges of the floor area, leading to significant heat losses.
Innovation Solution
A sealing arrangement is provided at the transition between the lateral edge of the floor area and the wall, utilizing a flexible seal and a guide arrangement that ensures precise alignment without rubbing, combined with an adjustable guide surface and actuating element to facilitate smooth closure and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If large tolerances are used in channel manufacturing to ensure reliable insertion of lateral edges, then ease of manufacture is improved, but thermal separation deteriorates due to significant heat losses
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible sealing element is introduced between the lateral edge of the floor area and the wall channel. This sealing element can be made of flexible material that accommodates manufacturing tolerances while maintaining thermal separation. The flexible nature allows it to conform to slight variations in channel dimensions without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and thermal separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element acts as an intermediary component between the floor area lateral edge and the wall channel. It fills the gap created by manufacturing tolerances and provides the necessary thermal barrier. This intermediary element allows the system to function effectively even when the channel dimensions vary within tolerance ranges, thus improving thermal separation without compromising ease of manufacture.
2Loss of energy
If a sealing arrangement is added to improve thermal separation, then heat losses are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is designed as a simple flexible component that can be easily installed in the channel. Its flexibility allows it to accommodate manufacturing variations without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms. The sealing element may be a simple strip or profile that compresses or conforms to the channel walls, providing effective sealing with minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element can be designed as a relatively simple, potentially replaceable component. If wear or damage occurs, it can be replaced without replacing the entire gate structure. This approach reduces the complexity of the overall system by using a simple, maintainable sealing component rather than a complex integrated sealing mechanism.
3Loss of energy
If the sealing element is made flexible to accommodate tolerances, then thermal separation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential rubbing and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is designed with flexibility to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion. This flexibility prevents rigid contact that would cause rubbing and wear. The material selection and geometric design ensure that the sealing element can deform to maintain contact with the channel walls without creating high-stress concentration points that would lead to premature failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is designed to absorb and cushion the effects of manufacturing tolerances and operational variations before they can cause damage. By providing a compliant interface that can deform and accommodate variations, the sealing element prevents rigid impacts and rubbing that would otherwise occur, thereby enhancing reliability while maintaining flexibility for thermal separation.
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
The solution effectively reduces heat losses by ensuring airtight sealing while maintaining reliable closure and minimizing wear, even with manufacturing tolerances, thus enhancing thermal insulation.
Implementation Method 1
the thermal separation between the outside and inside is unsatisfactory using the known gates... heat losses from a room enclosed by such doors can be satisfactorily counteracted
Implementation Method 2
a guide arrangement with which an outer boundary surface of the floor area is pressed against the sealing element during a closing movement of the gate leaf... ensures precise alignment without rubbing
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4
AI summary
Gate with a gate leaf (10) that is movable between a closed position in which it at least partially closes a wall opening and is arranged in an approximately vertical closing plane, and an open position in which it at least partially releases the wall opening, wherein the gate leaf has a lower bottom area (16) of lesser width in a horizontal direction in the plane of the gate leaf in the closed position and an upper closing area (12) of greater width in a horizontal direction in the plane of the gate leaf in the closed position, wherein a sealing arrangement (40) is provided for sealing the transition between at least one lateral edge of the bottom area (16) and the wall containing the wall opening.