Roll Door Cross-Bar with Rollers for High Wind Loads
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed roll doors experience high frictional forces due to reactive forces from side columns under high wind and pressure loads, which can prevent normal operation or reduce speed, especially when the flexible curtain is deployed or partially deployed.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a flexible curtain with a pair of opposed side edges inserted within track members, at least one rigid cross-bar with rollers, and gliding spheres supported by side columns with angled restrictors and lock plates to reduce friction and secure the curtain during high wind loads, allowing smooth operation and secure closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the flexible curtain is constrained by side columns to prevent giving in to wind loads, then the curtain stability is improved, but the frictional force increases and prevents normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces rollers and gliding spheres as intermediary elements between the flexible curtain and the side columns. These intermediaries reduce direct contact and friction while maintaining the constraint function, allowing the curtain to be held stable against wind loads without experiencing excessive friction that would prevent normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic elements such as rollers that can rotate and gliding spheres that can move along the track members. These dynamic components adapt to wind load variations, providing stable constraint when needed while minimizing friction during operation, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.
2Force
If the side columns constrain the flexible curtain to resist high wind loads, then the wind load resistance is improved, but the reactive force creates high friction that reduces operation speed
Solution Approach 1:
Rollers and gliding spheres serve as mediators between the curtain and side columns, reducing the frictional component of the reactive force while maintaining the wind load resistance capability. The rollers rotate to accommodate lateral forces from wind loads without creating sliding friction that would reduce operation speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional sliding contact mechanics with rolling contact mechanics through the use of rollers and gliding spheres. This substitution reduces friction significantly while maintaining the same force resistance capabilities, thereby preserving operation speed even under high wind loads.
3Ease of operation
If the cross-bar with rollers is used to support the flexible curtain, then the movement friction is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the constraint system into multiple independent roller elements distributed along the cross-bar, rather than using a single complex mechanism. This segmentation allows each roller to independently handle local friction reduction needs, simplifying the overall design while achieving smooth movement throughout the entire curtain structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-bar with rollers serves multiple functions: it supports the flexible curtain, reduces movement friction, and provides a structure for mounting the rollers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still achieving smooth operation.
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 significantly reduces movement friction and secures the roll door at the closed position even under high wind and pressure loads, ensuring reliable and efficient operation by minimizing interference from wind forces and maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
There is at least one roller secured to each end of the cross-bar. The roller is positioned to move within the track member as the roll door is moved between the open and closed positions.
Implementation Method 2
The flexible curtain further includes multiple spaced apart gliding spheres that are coupled to the flexible curtain at both side edges. The gliding spheres are disposed within the pair of side columns to support the flexible curtain and allow the curtain to travel at high wind loads under low frictional forces.
Data Source
AI summary
A high speed roll door is movable between an open and a closed position at an opening of a building. The door includes a flexible curtain and a pair of side columns. Each side column provides an inner track to guide the curtain in vertical movement and restrain the curtain from lateral movement during deployment and retraction. The curtain further includes multiple cross bars supporting the flexible curtain from one of the pair of side columns to the other. Each of the cross bars further includes a first longitudinal bar sandwiching part of the curtain; and a second longitudinal bar pivotally connected to the first longitudinal bar. The hinge has an axis of rotation parallel to the first and the second longitudinal bars. At least a wheel is rotatably affixed to each end of the second longitudinal bar to engage the inner track of each of the side columns.