Segmented Roller Door System with Movable Center Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large building openings with roller shutters or grilles face challenges such as high wind loads leading to damage, difficulty in opening and closing with smaller vehicles or individuals, and complex assembly processes due to heavy components.

Innovation Solution

A door device with a support guide device featuring an elongated extruded aluminum profile for horizontal displacement, including guide rails and locking mechanisms, allowing for modular assembly and improved wind resistance, and optionally incorporating a wicket door for easier access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a single large roller door or roller shutter is used to close a building opening with large dimensions, then the visual appearance is appealing and opening/closing is quick, but the door is subject to high wind loads across its entire surface which can lead to serious damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual appearanceVSAvoidwind load resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the large building opening into multiple smaller door sections (typically three doors) instead of using a single large door. This segmentation reduces the surface area of each individual door, thereby reducing wind loads on each section while maintaining the overall closure function of the large opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a single large roller door or roller shutter is used, then opening and closing is quick, but it is inconvenient to have to open an entire door with very large dimensions when only one vehicle needs to exit or one person needs to enter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening speedVSAvoidoperational convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the opening into multiple independent door sections, the system allows selective operation of individual doors. This enables convenient access for single vehicles or persons through one door while keeping other doors closed, eliminating the need to open the entire large door structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If two or three narrower doors are used instead of a single roller door, then wind load protection is improved, but a movable lockable center support with guide rails and locking mechanisms is required which increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewind load resistanceVSAvoidcenter support structure
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The center support is designed as a movable structure that can be positioned in different locations along the building opening. This dynamic positioning capability allows the same support structure to serve multiple doors of different widths and configurations, reducing the need for multiple fixed support structures and thereby simplifying the overall system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable center support serves multiple functions: it provides lateral guidance for multiple doors, acts as a locking point for each door, and can be repositioned to accommodate different door configurations. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed compared to having fixed support structures for each door.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Strength

If the central support is made heavy with steel components to ensure mechanical strength against wind loads, then structural stability is improved, but installation becomes complicated and the guide rail must be designed with exceptional robustness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from heavy steel to lighter aluminum for the central support structure. This parameter change maintains sufficient mechanical strength through optimized aluminum profile design while significantly reducing weight, thereby simplifying installation and reducing the robustness requirements for the guide rail system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3441557B1Gate system comprising a door system
Publication Date: 2020.09.30 HORMANN DISSEN
  • EP3441557B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3441557B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3441557B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a door device (1) for a gate device (100) for a building opening with a large clear width, comprising at least one roller door and/or roller shutter. The door device (1) includes a door (2) and at least one support guide device (10, 13) provided on the door (2) for supporting and laterally guiding the roller door and/or roller shutter. The door (2) can be a wicket door or an emergency exit door. The support guide device (10, 13) comprises a base body, which is an elongated extruded profile (12). The invention further relates to a gate device (100) comprising this door device (1), a guide rail (102), and a lintel (90), and to a gate assembly comprising this gate device (100) and one or more roller doors and/or roller shutters.