Self-repairable Shutter Device with Guide Track Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shutter devices risk damaging their side edges when reintroduced into guide tracks, especially at high speeds, due to disengagement and potential re-exit from the track, leading to uncontrolled swaying and impact.
Innovation Solution
Control means are positioned below the guide track access opening to guide and center the side edges, using a lintel and horizontal bar or centering devices to control the reinsertion process, minimizing contact and ensuring smooth re-engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the shutter is opened at high speeds, then productivity is improved, but the side edges may become disengaged from the guide tracks and cause damage upon reinsertion
Solution Approach 1:
The guide track portion is positioned above the access opening in advance, creating a pre-positioned reinsertion path. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the shutter moves at high speed and side edges become disengaged, they automatically follow the predetermined path through the access opening and are gently guided back onto the guide track, preventing damage while maintaining high opening speeds.
2Reliability
If control means are added to prevent side edge damage, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the shutter's own movement and the strategically positioned guide track portion above the access opening to create a self-guiding mechanism. When side edges become disengaged during high-speed operation, the geometry of the access opening and the overhanging guide track portion automatically guide them back onto the track without requiring external control means, actuators, or complex control systems, thus maintaining simplicity while improving reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is relative to a roller shutter device (3) designed to close a window (1) or other opening, the shutter (3) having side edges (4) that are held in guide tracks (5) and which can be disengaged from their guide tracks (5), each of the guide tracks (5) having an access opening (6) in their upper part through which the corresponding edge (4) of the shutter (3), which may have become disengaged, can once again be engaged into the portion of the guide track considered located above this access opening (6) when the shutter (4) is being moved into its open position, control means (9, 10) being foreseen, at least up to a level located below the portion (12) of the abovementioned guide track, on either side of a plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the guide tracks (5) and passing through the latter, these means allowing the possible sway of the shutter (3) to be controlled at the point where these side edges (3) are engaged into said portion (12) of the guide track through the access opening (6).