Roller-Shutter Sealing Device for Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing roller shutter box exit devices compromise thermal insulation due to air leakage through holes drilled for control members, such as rods or straps, which reduce the energy efficiency of buildings by allowing external air to enter and internal air to escape.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device comprising a cylindrical sheath and a collar with a decreasing cross-section transition, made from flexible material, is used to clamp the control member and maintain a seal around the rod or strap, ensuring radial closure of honeycomb board partitions and preventing air circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hole is drilled through the board for the control member, then the control member can pass through to connect the control device to the drive means, but air can circulate between the chambers delimited by partitions in the cells of the board, reducing thermal insulation performance
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device is nested within the exit frame structure, with the cylindrical sheath fitting into the frame and the collar securing the control member inside the sheath. This nested arrangement allows the sealing function to be integrated into the existing board structure without requiring separate external sealing components, thereby maintaining thermal insulation while enabling control member passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical sheath is made of flexible material that can deform to accommodate the control member (rod or strap) while maintaining a tight seal around it. This flexibility allows the sheath to conform to the control member's shape and position, preventing air circulation between the honeycomb chambers while still allowing the control member to pass through the board for operational connection.
2Ease of manufacture
If the seal between the boot end piece and the walls of the boot is made in line with the inside face, then the sealing is simplified, but air that has entered the cells can pass from the external environment to the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device extends the sealing action into a new dimension by projecting the collar beyond the board's inner face, perpendicular to the board surface. This dimensional extension creates a secondary sealing barrier that prevents air from reaching the housing, while the cylindrical sheath provides radial sealing against the board walls. This multi-dimensional sealing approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving airtightness reliability.
3Ease of operation
If a cylindrical hole is drilled through the board, then the control rod can be passed through, but the drilling reduces the overall thermal performance of the box and allows air entry and circulation between chambers
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device segments the board structure into distinct sealed zones: the cylindrical sheath creates a sealed passage through the board, while the collar segments the control member's path to prevent air leakage. This segmentation allows the control rod to be installed through the board while maintaining thermal performance by dividing the board into sealed compartments that prevent air circulation between chambers.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical sheath acts as an intermediary element between the control rod and the board structure. Instead of directly drilling a hole through the board, the sheath is inserted into the board and secured with the collar, creating an intermediate sealed pathway. This intermediary structure allows the control rod to pass through while preventing direct air circulation between the honeycomb chambers, thereby preserving thermal performance.
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
This solution effectively reduces air leakage, enhancing thermal insulation and energy efficiency by maintaining a tight seal around the control member, even when it inclines, thereby minimizing energy consumption for maintaining a determined temperature in the room.
Implementation Method 1
A roller shutter trunk exit device... a sealing device for the control member at the level of the crossing of the board... The transition between the cylindrical sheath and the collar can be ensured by a ringed zone of decreasing cross-section as far as the collar, making it possible to accompany the inclination of the rod with respect to the direction orthogonal to the plate, while maintaining the sealing around the rod.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The frame (13) has an elastomeric sealing device (17) for sealing a control element e.g. control rod (7), to be passed through a plank (2) of a roller-shutter casing (1). The sealing device comprises a flexible piece having a plate (18) provided with an opening for passage of the rod. The plate is clamped between an outer face of the plank and the frame. The sealing device has a cylindrical sleeve (19) that is connected to the plate. The sleeve projects from the plate around the opening by a length sufficient to traverse the plank and surround an area of the rod inside the casing. An independent claim is also included for a roller-shutter casing.