Shading System Rail Coupling for Coordinated Blade Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shading systems for outdoor spaces are complex and time-consuming to manufacture and mount, with a high risk of rainwater re-ascension and potential damage to adjacent blades due to individual coupling elements and lack of coordinated rotation.
Innovation Solution
A shading system featuring a housing with a first rail and a second rail, where each shading blade is rotatably coupled to both, allowing simultaneous coordinated rotation and minimizing the need for individual coupling elements and orientation guides, along with a rain gutter and protecting element to prevent water re-ascension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If individual coupling elements and orientation guides are used for each shading blade, then the shading system can achieve blade rotation and positioning, but the manufacturing and mounting complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coupling and orientation guidance functions into a single integrated rail structure. The rail incorporates both the coupling mechanism and the orientation guide elements, eliminating the need for separate coupling elements and orientation guides for each blade. This integration simplifies manufacturing and assembly while maintaining the ability to rotate and position each shading blade independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a support structure, a coupling mechanism, and an orientation guide for all shading blades. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of components needed in the system, thereby reducing manufacturing and mounting complexity while preserving full operational capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual coupling elements are used for each shading blade, then each blade can be independently positioned, but the time required for manufacturing and mounting increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple individual coupling elements into a single integrated rail structure, the patent reduces the number of assembly operations required. The rail is installed as one component rather than requiring separate installation of multiple coupling elements, significantly reducing mounting time while maintaining the ability to independently position each blade through the rail's integrated guidance features.
3Area of stationary object
If shading blades are arranged closely together, then the coverage of the underlying space is improved, but the risk of rainwater re-ascension and damage to adjacent blades increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rainwater management function from the blade design itself and relocates it to a separate gutter system. The gutter is positioned to collect rainwater before it can re-ascend between closely spaced blades, thereby allowing the blades to be arranged closely together for maximum coverage without the harmful effect of water infiltration between them.
Data Source
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AI summary
A shading system (1) comprising: - a housing (11) extending along a longitudinal housing direction (3); - a plurality of shading blades (12) extending along a longitudinal blade direction (4); - a coupling system comprising: o a first rail (131) configured to translate along said longitudinal housing direction (3); o a second rail (132) extending along said longitudinal housing direction (3); o wherein each of said shading blades (12) is rotatably coupled to said first rail (131) and to said second rail (132); and o a coupling element (133) rotatably coupled to said housing (11) and rotatably coupled to said second rail (132); and - an actuator (14) to translate said first rail (131) along said longitudinal housing direction (3); whereby said coupling element (133) limits a translation of said second rail (132), thereby rotating said shading blades (12).