Roller Blind With Stiff Outer Sheet and Single Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional roller blinds with cylindrical weight rolls occupy significant vertical space in the raised position, reducing light transmission and causing imbalance during winding/unwinding due to the contact between sheets and weights.
Innovation Solution
Designing a roller blind with an outer sheet having greater bending stiffness than the inner sheet, maintaining a distance between layers, allowing a single unattached elongate body in the inner sheet to suffice, eliminating the need for a second weight, and incorporating multiple layers for improved insulation and reduced installation width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If two cylindrical weight rolls are used in conventional roller blinds, then the roller blind can be wound and unwound, but the weights occupy significant vertical space in the raised position, reducing light transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from using two separate cylindrical weights (occupying vertical space) to a single planar insert element positioned horizontally between the sheets. This dimensional change from vertical to horizontal orientation eliminates the vertical space occupation problem while maintaining the counterbalancing function through the insert's position and interaction with the sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential function of the weights (providing counterbalance and maintaining sheet separation) and implements it through a different mechanism - a single planar insert element that works in conjunction with the bending stiffness differential between outer and inner sheets, rather than relying on two separate cylindrical weights.
2Volume of stationary object
If both sheets contact the cylindrical weight in the raised position, then the structure is compact, but both sheets move in the same direction during winding, causing imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different local qualities to the sheets by creating an asymmetric configuration where the outer sheet has greater bending stiffness than the inner sheet. This local stiffness differential ensures that during winding, the sheets move differently relative to the single insert element, maintaining balance while keeping the structure compact in the raised position.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces asymmetry through the differential bending stiffness of the outer and inner sheets, and through the asymmetric positioning of the single insert element between them. This asymmetric design prevents both sheets from moving in the same direction during winding, thereby maintaining balance while achieving compactness.
3Device complexity
If a single unattached elongate body is used in the inner sheet, then the structure is simplified, but the outer sheet layers must maintain distance without a second weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the critical parameter of bending stiffness by making the outer sheet stiffer than the inner sheet. This parameter change allows the outer sheet to maintain its shape and keep layers at a distance without requiring a second weight, thereby simplifying the device while solving the layer separation challenge.
Solution Approach 2:
The single unattached insert element acts as an intermediary that, combined with the bending stiffness differential, mediates the interaction between the inner and outer sheets. The insert provides a reference point that works with the stiffness differential to maintain layer separation without requiring a second weight.
4Temperature
If multiple layers are used with intermediate spaces, then heat and cold insulation is improved, but the installation width must accommodate the layer distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the layer separation mechanism from the vertical dimension (where it would increase installation height) to the horizontal dimension, using the width of the single insert element to maintain the necessary spacing between sheets. This allows multiple insulating layers to be created without significantly increasing the overall installation width.
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 enhances light transmission, balances the roller blind during operation, and provides superior heat and cold insulation by maintaining layer distances and utilizing a single weight, while minimizing installation space and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
By choosing the bending stiffness of the outer sheet to be greater than the bending stiffness of the inner sheet and such that said bending stiffness, at least at the location of the elongate body, maintains a distance between the layers of the outer sheet which is greater than the thickness of the elongate body
Implementation Method 2
a roller blind is achieved which performs more efficiently and, in addition, has very good insulating properties with respect to heat and/or cold due to the intermediate spaces between the plurality of layers
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 1b~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a roller blind having at least four layers. The outer layers form one sheet and the inner layers form one sheet. A cylindrical body is provided in the inner sheet. The outer sheet has a bending stiffness which is such that, at least at the location of the cylindrical body between the layers of the outer sheet and the layers of the inner sheet, a distance is maintained. The invention furthermore relates to an assembly of a roller blind according to the invention and a double glazing unit.