Integrated Sliding Door Damping and Retraction Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding door retraction and damping devices are often bulky, visibly installed, and cannot be easily integrated within the profile rail, leading to aesthetic issues and functional limitations such as hard impacts when the door reaches its end position.
Innovation Solution
A slim, integrated device that combines retraction and damping functions, housed within the profile rail's cross-section, slidably arranged with the carriage, allowing for seamless insertion and concealment, utilizing a spring and lever mechanism for smooth door guidance and damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If retraction and damping devices are fastened to the side of the profile rail or cabinet, then the door can be retracted and damped, but the housing becomes visible and appears coarse, preventing books or folders from being pushed in
Solution Approach 1:
The device integrates the damping element and retraction element into a common housing that is nested within the profile rail's cross-section. The housing is positioned within the slot on the underside of the profile rail, making it invisible from the outside while maintaining full functionality for door damping and retraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a side-mounted configuration (external to the profile rail) to an integrated configuration within the profile rail's cross-section. By utilizing the vertical space within the rail's slot, the device achieves hidden installation without compromising its damping and retraction capabilities.
2Ease of manufacture
If a common housing accommodates both damping and retraction elements, then installation is simplified, but the housing width may exceed the profile rail slot width, preventing easy insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The housing dimensions are specifically designed to fit within the profile rail's slot width. By optimizing the housing width parameter to be smaller than the slot width, the device enables subsequent insertion into already mounted profile rails while maintaining the integrated damping and retraction functionality.
3Shape
If the device is integrated within the profile rail cross-section, then the installation is hidden and sleek, but the space for accommodating both damping and retraction elements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element and retraction element are nested within a compact common housing that fits within the profile rail's cross-section. This nested arrangement maximizes the use of limited space while maintaining both damping and retraction functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element and retraction element are combined into a single integrated device with a common housing. This merging reduces the total volume required compared to separate installations, enabling hidden installation within the profile rail while maintaining both functions.
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 solution provides a sleek, hidden installation that effectively guides and slows the sliding door into its end position, preventing hard impacts while maintaining a slim profile, allowing for easy installation and removal without visible components.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element (27) arranged in the housing (17), wherein the spring element (27) acts on the lever pawl (31)
Implementation Method 2
a damping element (49) arranged on the piston rod (29), which brakes the movement of the piston rod (29) by viscous damping
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~11
Figure 7~10
AI summary
The device (1) for pulling a sliding door (5) supported by traveling gears (9) in a profile rail (23) into an end position, and for braking the sliding door (5), is arranged inside the cross-section of the profile rail (23), and connected in a fixed manner to the traveling gear (9) and consequently to the sliding door (5). By means of a stopper element (43), the sliding door (5) is braked shortly before reaching the end position, then pulled into the end position by means of a spring (27).