Sectional Door Frame Drainage for Thermal Bridge Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sectional doors experience a deterioration in thermal separation between the interior and exterior spaces over time due to moisture penetration into the cavity between the sealing device, frame, and filling, forming a thermal bridge.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a drainage device within the frame's hollow profile to drain moisture from the cavity, ensuring that the thermal separation is maintained without compromising the stability or thermal insulation, by providing openings in the frame's walls to direct moisture away from the cavity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealing device is used to prevent moisture penetration into the cavity, then thermal separation is improved, but moisture accumulation still occurs over time due to inevitable penetration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal separationVSAvoidmoisture accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of moisture penetration into a beneficial drainage system. The hollow profile structure with integrated drainage channels captures and redirects moisture that inevitably penetrates through the sealing device, transforming the harmful accumulation into a controlled drainage process that maintains thermal separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow profile acts as an intermediary element between the cavity and the external environment. It provides a dedicated pathway for moisture removal without compromising the sealing between the frame and filling, serving as a mediator that allows moisture egress while maintaining the primary thermal barrier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the frame is made solid to provide structural stability, then strength is improved, but thermal insulation deteriorates due to thermal bridges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidthermal separation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is segmented into a hollow profile structure with multiple chambers instead of a solid cross-section. This segmentation reduces thermal mass and thermal bridge effects while maintaining structural integrity through the distributed hollow structure, allowing both strength and thermal insulation requirements to be met.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow profile creates a composite structure combining the frame material with air or insulating material within the hollow chambers. This composite construction provides thermal insulation benefits while maintaining the structural strength of the frame material, effectively reducing thermal bridges without sacrificing stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If drainage openings are added to the frame, then moisture removal is improved, but structural integrity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture removalVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage channels are nested within the hollow profile structure itself, utilizing the existing hollow space rather than adding external drainage components. This nested design allows moisture removal functionality to be integrated into the frame structure without requiring additional openings that would compromise structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The drainage function is implemented in the internal dimension of the hollow profile rather than through external surface openings. By creating drainage channels within the hollow cross-section, the system achieves effective moisture removal without penetrating the external frame surfaces, thereby maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 drainage device effectively prevents moisture accumulation, maintaining the desired thermal separation and stability of the sectional door, ensuring consistent performance over its service life.

Implementation Method 1

a drainage device having an opening in an upper wall of the chamber, through which moisture can drain from the cavity into the chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3751086B1Sectional door
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 HORMANN BROCKHAGEN
  • EP3751086B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3751086B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3751086B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Sectional door with a door leaf movable along a path defined by a guide rail arrangement between a closed position, in which it is arranged approximately in a vertical plane, and an open position, in which it is preferably arranged overhead, in particular approximately in a horizontal plane, the door leaf having a plurality of door leaf elements arranged one behind the other in the direction of door leaf movement and articulated to one another with respect to pivot axes running perpendicular to the defined path, wherein at least one door leaf element has a frame surrounding a filling, such as a transparent pane arrangement, with a holding device designed to hold the filling and bearing against an outer boundary surface of the filling facing away from the space to be closed by the door leaf via a sealing device, in the closed position.wherein the frame has a drainage device for draining liquid from a cavity formed between the frame, the sealing device and/or the filling.