Sliding Door Dampening Translator Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sliding closures for buildings, such as sliding glass doors, often feature bulky and costly electro-mechanical closers that fail to effectively prevent slamming and provide smooth operation.
Innovation Solution
A dampening translator system comprising a housing with a traveler, retractor, dampener, and catch, which applies a bias force and decelerates the closure during its travel, ensuring smooth opening and closing by resisting slamming and facilitating controlled movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electro-mechanical closers are used in conventional sliding closures, then the closing function is provided, but the device becomes bulky, complex, and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The translator assembly is divided into distinct functional components: a retractor mechanism for generating bias force, a dampener for controlling speed, a traveler for movement along the closure, and a catch for engagement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity, replacing the monolithic electro-mechanical closer with modular mechanical elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The translator assembly uses spring-loaded retractors that automatically generate the bias force needed to move the closure, eliminating the need for external power sources or complex control systems. The dampener automatically regulates the closing speed through viscous damping, and the catch automatically engages at the appropriate position, making the system self-regulating and highly reliable without adding complexity.
2Ease of operation
If conventional electro-mechanical closers are used, then closing action is provided, but slamming is not effectively prevented and smooth operation is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The dampener is positioned to engage the traveler before the catch engages the frame, creating preliminary damping action that controls the closing speed in advance. This preliminary deceleration prevents the closure from gaining excessive speed that would cause slamming, ensuring smooth operation throughout the entire closing sequence rather than just at the end.
Solution Approach 2:
The dampener provides continuous viscous damping throughout the translator's movement, cushioning the closing action before final engagement. This beforehand cushioning ensures that the closure approaches the closed position at a controlled, smooth speed, preventing impact and slamming while maintaining reliable operation.
3Reliability
If a dampening translator system is implemented, then slamming is prevented and smooth operation is achieved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor and dampener are integrated into a single translator assembly that moves as one unit along the closure. The retractor spring and dampener share common mounting points and the traveler mechanism, merging force generation and speed control functions into a compact, unified structure. This integration reduces the number of separate components and simplifies installation while maintaining reliable slamming prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The traveler acts as an intermediary component that connects the retractor-dampener mechanism to the catch engagement system. It translates the linear motion of the closure into controlled movement of the dampener piston, mediating between the force-generating elements and the final engagement point. This intermediary mechanism allows complex damping action to be achieved through simple geometric relationships rather than complex control systems.
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 system effectively prevents slamming and ensures smooth operation of sliding closures by applying a bias force and decelerating the closure, enhancing user experience and reducing wear and tear on the closure mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a dampener carried by the housing to decelerate the traveler against the bias force
Implementation Method 2
a dampener carried by the housing to decelerate the traveler against the bias force applied thereto by the retractor
Implementation Method 3
a retractor carried by the housing to apply a bias force to the traveler to retract the traveler
Data Source
AI summary
A dampening translator for a sliding building closure comprising a housing having a longitudinal axis and a traveler track with a longitudinally extending portion having a first end. A traveler is carried by the housing and includes a body carrying track followers carried in the traveler track of the housing, and carrying longitudinally spaced walls extending away from the body and establishing a catch space therebetween. A retractor is carried by the housing and has a housing portion coupled to the housing and a traveler portion coupled to the traveler to bias the traveler in a direction toward the first end of the traveler track. A dampener is carried by the housing to decelerate the traveler.