Sliding Door Coupler Positioning for Damping and Deformation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding door systems face issues with precise coordination between elements connected to the running rail and the door leaf, leading to potential malfunctions and damage due to deformation of the coupler, and require complex, cost-intensive constructions to ensure accurate positioning and operation.
Innovation Solution
The coupler is positioned at the rear end of the carriage, allowing it to engage with the damper unit before reaching the end position, preventing deformation and enabling a compact design with positioning elements for precise alignment, ensuring reliable damping and smooth operation without protruding from the door leaf.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the coupler is arranged on an arm running parallel to the running rail to interact with the limiting device, then the door leaf can be limited in its movement, but the arm undergoes elastic deformation causing imprecise positioning and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler is extracted from the flexible arm structure and repositioned directly on the carriage body at the rear end. This separates the limiting function from the flexible connection, eliminating the elastic deformation problem while maintaining the positioning function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the coupler on a flexible arm that deformably interacts with the limiting device, the invention inverts the arrangement by placing the coupler rigidly on the carriage rear end, making the interaction non-deformable and thus more precise.
2Ease of operation
If the coupler is positioned to engage with the damper unit before the end position, then the door leaf can be smoothly decelerated and positioned, but the construction becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting device and damper unit are merged into a single integrated assembly mounted on the running rail. This combination simplifies the overall construction while enabling the coupler to engage with the damper unit before the end position, achieving smooth deceleration and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper unit is positioned to engage with the coupler before the door leaf reaches its end position. This preliminary engagement allows the damper to begin decelerating the door leaf in advance, ensuring smooth operation and precise positioning at the end position.
3Reliability
If the coupler protrudes from the carriage to engage with the damper unit, then the engagement can be ensured, but the running gear dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler is arranged at the rear end of the carriage such that it engages with the damper unit in a nested configuration. The coupler fits into the damper unit's engagement space without requiring additional protrusion, thus maintaining compact carriage dimensions while ensuring reliable engagement.
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 configuration prevents coupler deformation, ensures accurate positioning, and allows for a compact, reliable sliding door system with improved guidance and reduced risk of damage, enabling easy assembly and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
The damper absorbs the kinetic energy of the door leaf when the sliding door closes
Implementation Method 2
dampers are known which are additionally equipped with a spring which pulls the engagement part of the damper in the direction of the end position of the damper
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a sliding door comprising a rail (10) with a door leaf (12) that is guided thereon by way of at least one drive (13), a limiting device (15) for the purpose of limiting the path of the door leaf (12), a damping unit (20) having a retracting function and a coupler (30) that grips together with the gripper part (17) of the damping unit (20). The damping unit (20) first brakes the door leaf (12) when it is displaced in the direction of an end position and drives it finally into the end position. The coupler (30) is arranged at the rear end (18) of the running gear (13) in the direction of the end position.