Sectional Door Rail Assembly With Self-Locking Anti-Rotation Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sectional door guide structures face difficulties in secure attachment, particularly at high elevations, due to challenging screw positioning and torque application, which can lead to inadequate fixation and increased risk of relative movement during door operations.
Innovation Solution
A metal connection system with a self-locking mechanism, comprising a C-shaped rail and a metal part with a threaded rod and passage, allowing for precise adjustment and secure attachment to a rail, utilizing stop means to prevent rotation and ensure correct positioning, facilitating easy assembly and resistance to vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional screw and nut fastening is used to attach door components to the rail, then the elements can be positioned and attached, but the fastening becomes difficult at high elevations and may allow rotation and relative translational movement during vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting piece is designed with a self-locking mechanism where the screw automatically locks into the rail upon insertion, eliminating the need for manual nut tightening. The screw head engages with the rail's internal threading and locks in place through a cam-action or deformation mechanism, allowing the component to secure itself without additional fastening operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional screw-nut mechanical fastening system is replaced with a self-locking screw mechanism that uses elastic deformation and geometric locking features. The screw incorporates a deformable head or cam surface that mechanically locks into the rail's receiving feature, substituting the need for threaded nuts and wrench tightening with a simpler insertion-and-lock mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the screw shank is engaged in the elongated window to allow positioning adjustment, then the elements can be positioned relative to each other, but access to the nut for tightening becomes very complicated or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting piece eliminates the need for separate nut tightening by incorporating a self-locking screw design. The screw automatically secures itself to the rail through its own structural features, such as a deformable head that expands or cams into the rail's receiving feature, making the fastening process self-servicing without requiring external tool access.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of positioning adjustment and secure fastening are merged into a single self-locking screw mechanism. The screw simultaneously provides positioning adjustability through its movement in the elongated window and automatic secure fastening through its self-locking feature, combining what were previously separate functions (adjustment plus nut tightening) into one integrated component.
3Reliability
If anti-rotation washers are used on the screw head side to prevent rotation, then some rotation is prevented, but slight rotation on the nut side is still possible which induces relative translational movement during vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The self-locking screw mechanism automatically prevents rotation and maintains clamping force through its own structural design. The screw's deformable head or cam surface creates a mechanical lock that inherently resists rotational forces and maintains constant contact pressure, eliminating the need for separate anti-rotation washers and ensuring vibration resistance through its self-servicing locking action.
Data Source
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AI summary
A garage door assembly comprising a rail (1), a part (4) for attaching to said rail, and a connecting means (5) to a rod (50) supporting or associated with a foot (52), said rod (50) or said foot (52) being provided with at least one stop means to limit the rotation of the rod or the foot. (Figure 1)