Sliding Door Cam-Roller Lift for Lower Operating Forces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding doors and windows with vertically adjustable panels require high operating forces due to sliding friction in inclined planes, making them difficult to operate efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The sliding panel is equipped with a lower rail-like track that uses a roller assembly with cam rollers to move along a ramp contour track, reducing the friction to rolling friction, allowing for easy height adjustment and horizontal displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a guide rail with inclined planes is used to support and guide the lifting movement, then the sliding sash can be vertically adjusted, but high operating forces are required due to sliding friction in the inclined planes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the sliding friction mechanism (rollers on inclined planes) with a rolling friction mechanism (cam rollers on ramp contours). The cam rollers roll along oblique ramp contours instead of sliding along inclined planes, substituting a mechanical sliding system with a rolling system that requires significantly lower operating forces and reduces energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of friction from sliding friction to rolling friction by introducing cam rollers that roll along ramp contours. This parameter change transforms the interaction between the lifting mechanism and the guide structure, reducing the coefficient of friction and consequently the operating forces required.
2Shape
If the lower guide rail is made lowerable to allow frameless finish at floor level, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but the construction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lifting mechanism into separate functional components: the sliding sash with its lower running surface, the roller assembly with cam rollers, and the fixed ramp contour track. This segmentation allows the lower running surface to be retractable into the floor for aesthetic purposes while maintaining the lifting function through the separated roller assembly that rolls along the fixed ramp contours.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the rolling function from the lowerable guide rail concept. Instead of having a movable guide rail that can be lowered, the design extracts the rolling mechanism (cam rollers) and applies it to a fixed ramp contour track, allowing the lower running surface to be simply retractable without adding complex movable guide rail structures.
3Area of moving object
If multiple glazing and continuous sash frame are used in sliding panels, then view unobstruction is improved, but the mass and rigidity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the counterweight principle through the cam rollers rolling along the ramp contours. The ramp contours are designed with specific geometries that provide mechanical advantage, effectively counterbalancing the weight of the multi-glazed sliding sash. This allows larger panel areas with improved view unobstruction while the counterbalancing mechanism compensates for the increased mass, reducing the net force required for operation.
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
This design requires less energy for operation, simplifies construction, and ensures smooth, trouble-free movement of the sliding sash, with reduced power requirements for motor drives.
Implementation Method 1
only the rolling friction between the respective guide roller and the respective ramp, which is significantly lower in magnitude than static friction, needs to be overcome
Implementation Method 2
the rolling friction between the respective guide roller and the respective ramp, which is significantly lower in magnitude than static friction
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~1e
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a sliding door comprising a blind frame (300) and a sliding leaf (1) which is arranged movably in or relative to the blind frame for opening and closing a passage D in the blind frame (300), wherein: the sliding leaf (1) is arranged in the blind frame (300) so as to be vertically height-adjustable and horizontally movable relative thereto; the sliding leaf (1) has a lower rail-like running surface (LF) by means of which the sliding leaf, in a movement position, can be slid on at least one first roller element horizontally relative to this first roller element; the first roller element (50, 1050) has one, two or more sliding rollers (52, 1052) on which it is possible for the lift-and-slide element (1) to slide horizontally relative to the first roller element; the height level of the first roller element (50, 1050) is vertically variable, such that the sliding leaf, together with the first roller element (50, 1050), can be brought, relative to the blind frame (300), from a vertically lower lowered position to the movement position that is higher than the lowered position; and at least one slotted roller (54, 55) is provided on the first roller element (50, 1050) in order to modify the height level of the first roller element (50, 1050), which slotted roller can roll along at least one ramp contour path (561a, 561b, 561c) having a contour that extends obliquely to the horizontal at least in some portions.