Sliding Door Buffer Integration for Reliable Sealing Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding door systems face challenges in coordinating the adjustment and interaction between sealing and running technologies, leading to conflicts during installation, maintenance, and adjustment, particularly when thicker panels are used, and require complex coordination of multiple devices to ensure precise sealing at the locking position.

Innovation Solution

A sliding door system with a buffer device integrated into the guide rail that includes a transmission device to activate a sealing strip, allowing for seamless interaction between the running and sealing technologies, with a buffer device that ensures precise positioning and minimizes air gaps, and a compact design that simplifies installation and adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the sealing device and running technology are located next to each other in the door recess, then the sealing can be activated at the locking position, but conflicts arise during installation, maintenance, and adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing activation reliabilityVSAvoidcoordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the door recess into functional zones: a first region for the sealing device and a second region for the running technology. This spatial segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized independently, reducing conflicts during installation and maintenance while ensuring reliable interaction at the locking position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a transmission device as an intermediary mechanism that connects the sealing device and running technology. This intermediary component facilitates coordinated operation between the two systems without requiring direct integration, thereby simplifying installation and maintenance procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If thicker partition panels are used, then the door structure is strengthened, but accommodating the panel in the track cross-section becomes feasible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor panel strengthVSAvoidtrack accommodation feasibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a guide rail that extends in multiple dimensions (longitudinally and laterally) rather than relying solely on the track cross-section. This dimensional expansion allows thicker door panels to be accommodated by guiding them along the extended rail structure, eliminating the need to reduce panel thickness while maintaining manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If multiple adjustment devices are provided for the sliding door, then precise positioning is achieved, but the coordination between devices becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoiddevice coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functions of multiple adjustment devices into an integrated system where the guide rail itself provides positioning capabilities. The sealing device and running technology are coordinated through the transmission mechanism, reducing the number of separate adjustment devices needed while maintaining precise positioning through a unified structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4144945B1Sliding door system, sliding door and buffer device
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 HAWA SLIDING SOLUTIONS AG
  • EP4144945B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4144945B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4144945B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The sliding door system (1) comprises a sliding door (11) which is displaceable along a track (2) relative to a stationary activation part (911) up to a closed position; which has a door leaf (111); which comprises at least two carriages (3) which have a carriage body (31) and running elements (32) connected to the door leaf (111) and which are displaceably mounted in the track (2) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the track (2); which is equipped with an activatable sealing device (8) comprising an extendable sealing strip (81) and an actuating element (82); and which is equipped with a transmission device (6) comprising a transmission element (61);wherein the activation part (911) and the transmission device (6) are arranged such that, when the sliding door (11) moves into the closed position, a force can be transmitted from the activation part (911) via the transmission element (61) to the actuating element (82) in order to extend the sealing strip (81). According to the invention, a stationary buffer device (9) is provided, which is designed to stop the sliding door (11) in the closed position and which includes the activation part (911).