Rotatable Magnet Door Sealing System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door systems with magnetic sealing devices require high operating forces due to strong static friction, making them difficult to operate manually and inefficient in automatic systems, and can lead to jamming and tripping hazards.

Innovation Solution

A door system design featuring a rotatable magnet on the door leaf with a cylindrical cross-section and a concave surface, interacting with a first magnet on the sealing strip, allowing for low-force operation and a spacer element with low friction to facilitate easy rotation, along with a restoring device and additional magnets for enhanced sealing and alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If magnets are used to hold the sealing strip in position, then sealing reliability is improved, but operating force increases due to static friction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidoperating force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the second magnet rotatable rather than fixed. The second magnet is mounted on a rotation axis, allowing it to change its magnetic pole orientation dynamically. When the door leaf moves, the second magnet rotates to present opposite magnetic poles to the first magnet on the sealing strip, creating alternating attraction and repulsion forces that reduce static friction and enable easier operation while maintaining sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If high magnetic attraction force is used to hold the sealing strip, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the door system becomes harder to operate manually

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidmanual operation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the second magnet rotatable rather than fixed. The second magnet is mounted on a rotation axis, allowing it to change its magnetic pole orientation dynamically. When the door leaf moves, the second magnet rotates to present opposite magnetic poles to the first magnet on the sealing strip, creating alternating attraction and repulsion forces that reduce static friction and enable easier operation while maintaining sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Force

If magnets are placed close together to maximize attraction, then sealing force is improved, but jamming risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing forceVSAvoidjamming resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the second magnet rotatable rather than fixed. The second magnet is mounted on a rotation axis, allowing it to change its magnetic pole orientation dynamically. When the door leaf moves, the second magnet rotates to present opposite magnetic poles to the first magnet on the sealing strip, creating alternating attraction and repulsion forces that reduce static friction and enable easier operation while maintaining sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the periodic action principle through the rotational movement of the second magnet. As the door leaf moves, the second magnet periodically rotates to present different magnetic poles to the first magnet, creating a periodic sequence of attraction and repulsion forces. This periodic variation in magnetic interaction prevents continuous high static friction and reduces jamming risk while maintaining effective sealing force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Device complexity

If a fixed magnet arrangement is used, then device complexity is reduced, but operational reliability decreases due to jamming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnet arrangement complexityVSAvoidoperational reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the second magnet rotatable rather than fixed. The second magnet is mounted on a rotation axis, allowing it to change its magnetic pole orientation dynamically. When the door leaf moves, the second magnet rotates to present opposite magnetic poles to the first magnet on the sealing strip, creating alternating attraction and repulsion forces that reduce static friction and enable easier operation while maintaining sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 reduces the operating forces required for sealing, enhances functional reliability, and prevents direct contact between magnets, improving accessibility and reducing the risk of jamming and tripping hazards.

Implementation Method 1

the sealing strip is lifted by the attractive force of a second magnet arranged in the door leaf

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

the sealing strip is acted upon in its non-sealing or in its sealing position, depending on the rotational position of the second magnet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic repulsion: Magnetism

Implementation Method 3

The spacer element is advantageously made of a material with a low coefficient of friction, at least on its outer surfaces. This ensures that the rotatable magnet can be rotated relative to the first magnet with little effort

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Friction

Implementation Method 4

the second rotatable magnet is operatively connected to a restoring device, e.g. a spring, which rotates the rotatable magnet back to its basic position after the actuation element has been released

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Spring

Implementation Method 5

the sealing strip falls back into its sunken position under the effect of gravity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2402542B1Door system
Publication Date: 2016.05.04 GEZE GMBH
  • EP2402542B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2402542B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2402542B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The system (1) has a sealing device (11) comprising a magnet, which moves a sealing strip (12) based on position of a door wing (2) and is arranged at the sealing strip. The magnet cooperates with another magnet that is arranged at the door wing. The latter magnet is rotatably supported at the door wing. The sealing strip is pressurized based on rotation position of the latter magnet in a non-sealing position and/or a sealing position. A distance element is arranged between the two magnets. The sealing device comprises an actuating element.