Sliding Door Coupling Device for Manual Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator sliding doors are difficult to open and close manually when the electric drive fails, especially in large and heavy designs, due to high inertia and resistance, posing safety concerns for power outages.
Innovation Solution
A sliding door system with a coupling device that allows decoupling and recoupling of the drive, enabling manual operation by automatically uncoupling at end positions, combined with a traction mechanism and position detection using an incremental encoder for easy adaptation and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an electric drive is used to move the door leaf, then the door can be opened and closed without manual effort, but the door becomes difficult to operate manually when the drive fails
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device dynamically changes its state between coupled and decoupled positions based on the operational needs. When the door needs to be moved, the coupling device engages to connect the drive to the door leaf. When the drive fails or manual operation is needed, the coupling device can be decoupled to allow free manual movement, thus adapting the system's mechanical connection state to different operational requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device acts as an intermediary element between the electric drive and the door leaf. It mediates the force transmission from the drive to the door while also providing a mechanism to disconnect this transmission when needed. This intermediary component allows the system to switch between automated and manual operation modes by controlling the engagement state of the coupling device
2Reliability
If a heavy door leaf is used for large cooling rooms, then the thermal insulation is improved, but the door becomes difficult to move manually
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical manual door moving system with an electromechanical system. The electric motor provides the force needed to move heavy door leaves, substituting human mechanical effort with an electric drive system. The coupling device allows this electric drive to engage when needed and disengage when manual operation is required, making heavy doors manageable
3Productivity
If the drive is always engaged to ensure automatic door operation, then productivity is improved, but the door cannot be easily operated manually during power failures
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device's engagement state is dynamic rather than fixed. During normal operation, it remains engaged to enable automated door opening and closing for productivity. During emergencies or power failures, it can be decoupled to allow free manual operation, thus dynamically adapting to different operational scenarios
Data Source
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AI summary
It is a sliding door, in particular a cold storage sliding door, with at least one door leaf (1) which is movable along a running rail (2), with a drive (11, 12, 15) for moving the door leaf (1) along the running rail (2), wherein a coupling device (17, 19) is provided between the door leaf (1) and the drive (11, 12, 15).