Movable Roof Roller Anti-Excavation Guide Bead

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing movable weather protection roofs face issues with rollers easily jumping out of guides or being lifted off due to strong winds or misalignment, particularly when the guide rails are not parallel, leading to potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A rail guide system with securing beads that interact with correspondingly shaped securing means on the rollers, allowing limited vertical movement to prevent lifting while enabling easy attachment and detachment for secure placement and movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional guide rails are used without additional securing structures, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but the reliability is poor as rollers can easily jump out or be lifted off by wind or misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of rollers on guide railsVSAvoidstructure of guide rail system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rail is enhanced with localized securing beads at critical positions rather than completely redesigning the entire rail structure. These beads create specific engagement points that prevent roller disengagement while maintaining the overall simplicity of the guide rail design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Securing beads act as intermediary elements between the guide rail and rollers. These beads provide the necessary mechanical interlocking function without requiring complex fastening mechanisms or additional components, thus improving reliability while minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If anti-lift devices are firmly integrated into the weather protection roof as in prior art, then the reliability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates as attachment and detachment become difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against liftingVSAvoidattachment and detachment of anti-lift devices
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The securing function is segmented into modular securing beads that are integrated into the guide rail structure. This allows the anti-lift function to be provided through the existing guide rail system without requiring separate, firmly integrated anti-lift devices, thus maintaining ease of operation while ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide rail structure itself provides the anti-lift function through its integrated securing beads, eliminating the need for separate anti-lift devices that require attachment and detachment. The system serves its own anti-lift function, improving ease of operation while maintaining protection against lifting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If securing beads with significant vertical extension are used, then the reliability against lifting improves, but the ease of operation worsens as attachment becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of vertical displacementVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity of securing beads
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The securing beads are designed with optimized dimensional parameters, specifically with limited vertical extension. This parameter optimization provides sufficient anti-lift protection while maintaining ease of manufacturing and attachment, avoiding excessive complexity in the guide rail structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3363966B1Mobile weather protection roof with removal prevention
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 ALFIX
  • EP3363966B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3363966B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

Movable weather protection roof comprising a roof truss (2) with a roller (21) attached to its underside, and a guide means (3) which is attached to the top of a support (4) and defines a travel path for the roller (21), wherein the guide means is a guide rail (3) which has a safety bead (31) running along the rail which, in conjunction with the safety means (211, 212) engaging behind the bead (31) of the roller (21), forms an anti-excavation protection, and the use of such a weather protection roof.