Roller Shutter Slats Fastened to Edge Driving Chains
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roller shutters with complex mechanical constructions are inefficient in preventing air and light passage when closed and obstruct visibility and ventilation when open, due to unnecessary cross members that increase costs and do not effectively seal draughts.
Innovation Solution
A roller shutter design featuring a plurality of slats fastened to driving chains that extend along the edges, with chain links and connecting links that compress and decompress to open and close the slats, reducing the width of the chains to minimize obstruction and using hinging pins for articulation, allowing the slats to be driven by the weight of the shutter for simplified operation and improved sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cross members are used to fasten slats, then the roller shutter can be constructed, but visibility through lowered shutter is reduced and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the cross members from the roller shutter construction entirely. Instead of fastening slats to horizontal cross members, the slats are directly connected to the driving chain through articulation points, eliminating the obstructive cross members while maintaining structural integrity and reducing cost.
2Ease of manufacture
If cross members are used to fasten slats, then the roller shutter structure is complete, but air and light passage prevention is not significantly improved
Solution Approach 1:
The cross members are removed from the structure. The slats are directly articulated to the driving chain, creating a more efficient sealing structure where the slats themselves form the primary barrier against air and light passage without relying on additional cross members.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation points between slats and driving chain are designed with specific sealing characteristics, allowing the slats to maintain close contact and effective sealing at critical locations while eliminating unnecessary structural elements elsewhere.
3Strength
If wide driving chains are used to fasten slats, then the slats can be securely attached, but view and ventilation obstruction increases when open
Solution Approach 1:
The driving chain is segmented into discrete chain links rather than a continuous wide structure. Each chain link is narrowly dimensioned and articulates with the slat at specific points, providing secure attachment while minimizing the cross-sectional area that obstructs view and ventilation when the shutter is open.
4Adaptability or versatility
If complex mechanical construction is used, then the roller shutter can perform both functions, but reliability decreases and maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The simplified mechanical construction with slats directly articulated to the driving chain enables the roller shutter to perform both roll-up shutter and jalousie functions reliably. The same basic mechanism supports opening, closing, and intermediate positioning without requiring complex additional components, thereby improving reliability while maintaining versatility.
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 design provides a simpler construction that minimizes view and ventilation obstruction when open and effectively seals air and light when closed, reducing manufacturing costs and improving functionality as both a roll-up shutter and jalousie.
Implementation Method 1
when lowered, its own weight causes the opening of a plurality of blades
Implementation Method 2
when lifted, again by gravity, the blades close
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A roller shutter working both as a roll-up shutter and a jalousie, comprising a plurality of slats (3) and a driving chain (5) crosswise to which the plurality of slats (3) is fastened. The driving chain (5) comprises a plurality of driving links (7) and a plurality of connecting links (9). Each driving link (7) is fastened to at least one slat (3) and is arranged to drive it in order to open and close a plurality of openings (11). Both the driving links (7) and the connecting links (9) extend along less than the half of the total width (W1) of the roller shutter (1).