Sectional Door Panel Vertical Stacking Guide Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vertical sectional doors face limitations in speed of movement for opening and closing, are susceptible to mechanical defects, and require significant storage space when panels are parked horizontally.

Innovation Solution

The design introduces a lifting part articulated to the upper panel and a lifting guide for transitioning panels from vertical to horizontal movement, allowing faster panel movement and reducing mechanical connections, with a tongue and groove connection for stability and sealing, and using lifting rollers to minimize friction and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If panels are coupled together with articulated connections for vertical movement, then the door can open and close vertically, but the coupling requires considerable structural effort and the movable connections are susceptible to mechanical defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical reliabilityVSAvoidpanel coupling structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door is divided into individual panels that move independently through guides rather than being rigidly coupled together. Each panel operates as a separate unit with its own guide rails, eliminating the need for complex articulated connections between panels while maintaining vertical movement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Guide rails and guide shoes act as intermediary elements between panels and the door structure, enabling vertical movement without direct panel-to-panel coupling. The guides mediate the movement, reducing mechanical connections and improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If panels are wound up to form a shell around a winding shaft, then storage space is utilized, but the panels can only be designed with small height or width

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanel dimensionsVSAvoidwinding shaft storage space

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of winding panels around a central shaft (horizontal storage), the panels are guided to stack vertically above the door opening. This inverts the traditional storage orientation, allowing panels to maintain their full dimensions while occupying minimal horizontal space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage configuration transitions from horizontal winding (2D circular path) to vertical stacking (3D linear arrangement). By utilizing the vertical dimension above the door, the system accommodates full-size panels without requiring large horizontal storage volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of stationary object

If panels are moved horizontally along the ceiling for parking, then storage is achieved, but a space requirement corresponding to the size of the gate is necessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparking spaceVSAvoidhorizontal movement distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving panels horizontally along the ceiling for storage, the system inverts the approach by stacking panels vertically above the door. This eliminates the need for horizontal ceiling space equivalent to the gate size, reducing the parking footprint to a compact vertical arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Stability of the object's composition

If a locking device with greater distance between parked panels is used, then panel stability is improved, but the speed of movement for opening or closing is limited to less than 0.3 m/s

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanel spacing stabilityVSAvoiddoor opening/closing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces traditional mechanical locking devices with a guide-based positioning system. Panels are guided into place using guide rails and guide shoes, eliminating the need for rockers and mechanical locks that limit speed. This substitution enables higher movement speeds while maintaining panel stability through precise guidance rather than mechanical locking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 design enables faster opening and closing speeds, reduces mechanical susceptibility to failure, and minimizes storage space requirements by allowing panels to be arranged upright, while maintaining stability and sealing efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

using lifting rollers to minimize friction and noise

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP1795692B1Sectional door

Publication Date: 2015.02.11 ITW INDTORE

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AI summary

Each vertically adjustable panel (2a-2n) has a guide portion (5) arranged on a guide (7), and a support (6) on another guide (8). The panels are separable from each other through outer lifting rolls (15) on an outer lifting guide (9). Each panel is provided on the lower part with a groove (3) and on the upper part with a spring (4).