Sliding Door Breakout Support With Adjustable Suspension Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding door systems, particularly in intensive care units, face issues with insufficient support for breakout doors, leading to wear and damage due to uneven weight distribution, and lack of adjustability in the field, which can cause imbalances and further damage over time.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable breakout device with a support bar, housing, bracket, and set screw mechanism that allows for adjustable suspension angles, providing robust support and enabling on-site adjustments to accommodate varying door weights and improve functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If breakout doors are supported by only one or two support points, then the door can rotate off the track for emergency egress, but the components bearing the weight wear out over time and cause damage to the door system and floor
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple support points distributed along the door panel, with each support point consisting of a support element and corresponding support surface. This segmentation distributes the door weight across multiple locations rather than concentrating it at one or two points, reducing wear on individual components while maintaining breakout functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the door panel are provided with appropriate support characteristics. The support elements are positioned at specific locations along the door panel to optimize weight distribution. Each support point is designed with specific geometric characteristics (support element shape, support surface orientation) tailored to the local requirements of the door structure.
2Device complexity
If the breakout system weight distribution is set at installation, then the door structure is simplified, but the system cannot be adjusted in the field and experiences imbalances during breakout procedures causing damage over time
Solution Approach 1:
The support elements are designed with adjustable positioning capabilities, allowing the support points to be repositioned along the door panel after installation. This dynamic adjustability enables the system to adapt to different door weights and configurations in the field, preventing imbalances and damage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The positions of the support elements can be changed by adjusting their location along the door panel. This parameter change capability allows the breakout system to be customized for different applications and door configurations without requiring a complete system redesign, providing field adaptability while keeping the structural complexity manageable.
3Ease of manufacture
If sliding doors operate without a bottom track fixed to the floor, then the door system is simplified and contaminants are reduced, but a large amount of weight is placed on only a few small components leading to wear and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The upper track support system is segmented into multiple discrete support elements distributed along the door panel. This segmentation allows the weight to be distributed across multiple small components rather than concentrated at single points, reducing wear and damage while maintaining the trackless design benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relying on a continuous bottom track (horizontal dimension), the support function is achieved through multiple discrete support elements positioned at different locations along the door panel (vertical/distributed dimension). This dimensional change from continuous to discrete support points maintains installation simplicity while improving component durability through weight distribution.
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 adjustable breakout device enhances the durability and functionality of sliding doors by distributing weight more evenly and allowing for field-adjustable support, reducing wear and tear, and ensuring proper operation across a range of door weights.
Implementation Method 1
a set screw configured to pass through the housing and through the upper portion of the support bar, such that the set screw bears against a proximal end of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding door system is disclosed which includes an adjustable breakout device that is configured to change the suspension angle of one or more door panels of the sliding door system. The adjustable breakout device may include a support bar configured to extend vertically along the door panel, a housing configured to be mounted on an upper portion of the support bar, a bracket configured to be mounted on the upper portion of the support bar and within a portion of the housing, a set screw configured to pass through the housing and through the upper portion of the support bar, and a pivot configured to pass through the bracket. The set screw may be adjusted to cause the support bar to rotate about the pivot and therefore change the suspension angle of the one or more door panels.