Self-locking Balance Weight Insulated Glass Blinds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-sized insulated glass assemblies with internal blinds face difficulties in magnetic control due to weight and friction, leading to unpredictable movement of counterweights during assembly and transportation, which can cause damage.
Innovation Solution
A self-locking, balance weight-type insulated glass assembly with internal blinds that incorporates a magnetic operator connected to a chain of weights and a V-shaped flat spring, which locks the operator in place using a backplate and magnet receiving cavity, ensuring stability and preventing movement during transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a counterweight is configured on an internal magnetic operator to reduce control force, then the ease of operation is improved, but the counterweight can move randomly during assembly and transportation, causing damage to nearby parts
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is activated in advance during assembly to secure the counterweight before transportation or operation begins. The spring engages the locking protrusion to fix the counterweight position preliminarily, preventing random movement during handling while maintaining readiness for operation when unlocked.
Solution Approach 2:
A spring acts as an intermediary element between the counterweight and the locking structure. The spring provides both the locking force to secure the counterweight in position and the mechanism to allow controlled release when needed, mediating between the conflicting requirements of stability and operability.
2Reliability
If large-sized blinds assemblies are used, then the insulation performance is improved, but the weight of slats and friction increase, making magnetic control difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A counterweight mechanism is introduced to balance the weight of the blind slats. The counterweight compensates for the gravitational force acting on the large-sized slats, reducing the net force that the magnetic operator must overcome. This enables magnetic control to effectively operate large blinds assemblies that would otherwise be too heavy.
Solution Approach 2:
The counterweight is pre-configured to balance the slat weight before operation begins. By establishing the counterbalance in advance, the magnetic operator only needs to overcome friction and small imbalances during operation, rather than the full weight of the slats, making control feasible.
3Reliability
If the spring engages the side rail to lock the internal magnetic operator, then the stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through spring force. The spring automatically engages the locking protrusion with the side rail when the operator is installed, and can be released by simple external force. This self-service approach provides reliable locking without requiring additional actuators, motors, or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is extracted as a separate, simple mechanical feature (locking protrusion and spring) from the main magnetic operator mechanism. This modular approach allows the locking function to be implemented with minimal additional complexity while providing reliable stability when engaged.
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 effectively balances the weight of the blinds, prevents damage during assembly and transportation, and maintains the airtightness of the insulated glass assembly while allowing for easy operation of the blinds.
Implementation Method 1
The internal magnetic operator is connected to a chain of weights which provide a counterweight for the internal blinds
Implementation Method 2
The internal magnetic operator further has a first plurality of magnets which are disposed in a magnet receiving cavity extending through the internal magnetic operator
Implementation Method 3
A spring exerting a bias force on the end tips of backplate to normally press the backplate away from a rear surface of the internal magnetic operator such that the spring engages the side rail and locks the internal magnetic operator in place
Data Source
AI summary
An insulated glass assembly has internal blinds that are magnetically operated, balanced and can be locked in in place and a front and rear pane of glass having an internal blind assembly therebetween. The internal blind assembly includes first and second pull cords mounted to an upper end of an internal magnetic operator disposed within a side rail which directs the pull cords upward to a fixed connector. The internal magnetic operator is connected to a chain of weights which provide a counterweight for the internal blinds. The internal magnetic operator further has a first plurality of magnets which are disposed in a magnet receiving cavity extending through the internal magnetic operator. A back plate is disposed against the plurality of magnets in the internal magnetic operator. A spring exerting a bias force on the backplate to normally press the backplate away from a rear surface of the internal magnetic operator such that the spring engages the side rail and locks the internal magnetic operator in place.