Roller Shutter Blade Seal for Water Infiltration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rolling shutter systems face issues with water infiltration and freezing, leading to potential damage and malfunction, especially in horizontal or sloped orientations, due to inadequate sealing between blades.

Innovation Solution

A flexible elastic joint is used to cover the junction zone between blades, maintaining hooking means in place and allowing for watertight sealing while enabling relative movement, facilitating assembly and preventing damage from freezing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If hooks and housings are used to connect blades, then the blades can be assembled and articulated together, but water infiltration occurs in the junction zone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade assemblyVSAvoidwater infiltration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A seal element is introduced as an intermediary component between the hook and housing to prevent water infiltration. The seal element fills the gap between mating surfaces, blocking water paths while allowing the mechanical connection to function. This mediator resolves the contradiction by adding a water-blocking function without interfering with the articulation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal element is implemented as a flexible lip or thin film that can deform to accommodate the movement between blades. This flexible sealing solution maintains contact with both mating surfaces throughout the range of motion, preventing water infiltration while allowing the necessary articulation and sliding movements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Object-affected harmful factors

If water infiltration prevention is improved by better sealing, then water damage is reduced, but the movement between blades is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater infiltrationVSAvoidblade movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The seal element is designed as a flexible lip that can deform during blade movement. The flexibility allows the seal to maintain contact with mating surfaces throughout the articulation range, preventing water infiltration while accommodating the necessary movements without restriction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing solution transitions from a static seal to a dynamic seal that adapts its shape during operation. The seal element's flexibility and ability to deform dynamically during blade articulation ensure continuous sealing while maintaining full range of motion, resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and movement freedom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If water infiltration is prevented in horizontal orientations, then freezing damage is avoided, but the sealing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefreezing damageVSAvoidsealing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible lip seal provides an elegant and relatively simple solution compared to rigid sealing systems. The single flexible component can adapt to various orientations and movement patterns, providing effective sealing in horizontal, vertical, and sloped installations without requiring complex multi-component assemblies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The seal element serves multiple functions: preventing water infiltration, accommodating blade movement, and adapting to different installation orientations. This multi-functional design provides comprehensive protection against freezing damage across various applications without requiring orientation-specific sealing solutions, thereby avoiding increased complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 prevents water infiltration and freezing issues, ensuring reliable operation and assembly of rolling shutters across various orientations and weather conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible elastic seal (8) capable of being fixed to one of the adjacent blades (2), exerting on this side an action capable of maintaining the first and second attachment means in the cooperation position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3348779B1Verbindungselement für benachbarte lamellen und rollladen damit

Publication Date: 2024.05.01 BHG

Figure 1
Figure 2~3

AI summary

A system for joining adjacent slats (2) for articulation in pairs to form a roller shutter curtain suitable for closing an opening in a wall, the slats (2) each having their respective proximal (21) and distal (20) long sides of said wall in the shutter-closing position, each slat (2) having along one short side (5, 6) first attachment means and along the opposite short side (6, 5) second attachment means suitable for pivoting cooperation with the first attachment means of the adjacent slat (2) in a junction zone (7) between said adjacent slats (2). It includes a flexible elastic seal (8) fixed to one of the adjacent slats (2) and sealing the junction zone (7) on the side of the distal long sides (20) of the slats (2) while maintaining the first and second attachment means in a cooperating position.