Rolling Windbar Mechanism for Roll-Up Door Wind Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large roll-up doors face issues with wind loading, which causes curtain edges to be pulled out of tracks, excessive bowing, and increased friction, making it difficult for the doors to open and close effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of rolling windbars that provide back support to reduce billowing and friction, with freely rotating windbars and a track system that includes suspenders and carriages to manage wind pressure and facilitate smooth operation, while the windbar drive unit coordinates with the curtain drive unit to manage the door's opening and closing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If windbars are added to assist in reducing wind loading effects, then the door can open and close more reliably, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The windbar is integrated with the curtain assembly, combining the wind protection function with the existing door structure. The windbar is formed as a single piece with the curtain material, eliminating separate components and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The windbar serves multiple functions: it provides structural support against wind loading, maintains the curtain's shape, guides the curtain edges in the tracks, and reduces friction during operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
2Ease of repair
If the windbar is made freely rotating to reduce friction, then wear between windbar and curtain is reduced, but the control over windbar position is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The windbar freely rotates to accommodate curtain movement and wind loading without requiring external actuation. The system uses the natural motion of the curtain and the forces of wind to automatically position and orient the windbar, eliminating the need for complex positioning mechanisms.
3Volume of moving object
If the curtain is made flexible to allow rolling up, then the door can be compact when closed, but the curtain bows excessively under wind loading
Solution Approach 1:
The windbar is formed as an integral part of the curtain assembly, combining the flexible curtain material with a rigid wind support structure. This merged construction allows the curtain to roll up compactly while the integrated windbar prevents excessive bowing under wind loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly combines flexible curtain material with rigid windbar support structures, creating a composite system that exhibits both flexibility for rolling operation and rigidity for wind resistance. The combination allows the curtain to maintain its shape while remaining compact.
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 reduces friction and wear between the windbar and curtain, allowing for smoother operation and reducing the negative effects of wind loading, ensuring the door can open and close reliably.
Implementation Method 1
rolling windbars that provide back support to reduce billowing and friction
Implementation Method 2
the windbar freely rotates to reduce relative sliding action, friction and wear between the windbar and an adjacent surface of the curtain
Data Source
AI summary
Example roll-up doors are disclosed. An example roll-up door includes a track system and a curtain. The curtain blocks a doorway when a leading edge is at a closed position and unblocks the doorway when the leading edge is at an open position. The roll-up door further includes a track roller to vertically travel along a track system. The track roller is to be rotatable relative to the track system. The roll-up door also includes a windbar to be coupled to the track roller. The windbar is closer to the lintel when the leading edge of the curtain is at the open position than when the leading edge is at the closed position. The windbar is to be vertically movable with the track roller and to be rotatable relative to the track roller and rotatable relative to the track system.