Sliding Door Drainage with Segmented Hollow Post

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding doors and windows with drainage systems face issues where water accumulation occurs due to external pressure, leading to reduced water-tightness and potential inward water flow through drainage holes.

Innovation Solution

A sliding door or window design featuring a hollow sill post with drainage holes in both the upper and outward walls, incorporating a seal that divides the hollow post into compartments and a drainage valve to prevent wind-induced water intrusion, ensuring water flows through designated channels and maintaining water-tightness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If drainage holes are provided in the upper wall of the sill post for water drainage, then water can drain from the sliding panel, but external wind pressure can force water inward through the same drainage holes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage functionVSAvoidwind pressure causing inward water flow
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow sill post is divided into multiple compartments by seals positioned at different heights. This segmentation creates separate drainage paths for different panels and prevents wind pressure from forcing water through the entire post, as each compartment can be sealed independently against inward pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Seals are introduced as intermediary elements between the drainage holes and the internal cavity of the sill post. These seals act as mediators that allow water to drain outward while blocking wind pressure from forcing water inward through the drainage holes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the hollow post is used for drainage, then water can flow through the post structure, but the post gradually fills with water under external pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage channel functionalityVSAvoidwater-tightness maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow sill post is segmented into multiple compartments using seals at different vertical positions. This segmentation ensures that water can drain through the post while the seals prevent the entire post from filling up, maintaining reliability by limiting water accumulation to only the lowest compartment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Seals are pre-installed in the hollow sill post to create preliminary barriers against wind pressure. These seals proactively prevent water from being forced inward through the drainage holes, counteracting the harmful effect of external pressure before it can cause water accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Ease of operation

If drainage holes are provided on the inside of the door or window, then water can drain from the interior, but water can be blown inward via these holes under wind pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterior drainage capabilityVSAvoidwind-induced inward water flow
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The interior drainage holes are segmented from the exterior drainage holes by seals positioned within the hollow sill post. This segmentation creates separate drainage pathways, allowing interior water to drain while the seals block wind pressure from forcing water through the exterior holes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Seals serve as intermediary barriers between the interior and exterior drainage systems. These seals allow the interior drainage function to operate while simultaneously protecting against wind-induced inward water flow through the exterior drainage holes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively prevents water accumulation and ensures longer-lasting water-tightness by directing water flow externally and sealing against wind pressure, preventing inward water entry.

Implementation Method 1

a seal (20) which divides the hollow outer post (10) into two compartments (21, 22)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

a drainage valve (30) which can seal an above-mentioned drainage hole (19) in the above-mentioned outward directed wall (17) of the sill post (5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectValve sealing: Valve

Implementation Method 3

When rain water or the like comes into contact with an above-mentioned panel or the like, this water will run through the above-mentioned drainage holes in the upper wall of the sill post and through the hollow post to the drainage holes in the outward directed wall of the sill post via which it is drained

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity-driven flow: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP1726765B1Sliding door or sliding window with an improved drain
Publication Date: 2009.10.21 REYNAERS ALUMINIUM NV
  • EP1726765B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP1726765B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP1726765B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Sliding door or sliding window with an improved drain, which is provided with a hollow sill post (5) with guides (14 and 15) on which are provided sliding panels (3 and 4), whereby opposite each of these panels (3 and 4) are provided drainage holes (18, 19 respectively), in an upper wall (16) and in an outward directed wall (17) of the post (5) respectively, whereby the hollow post is divided by one or several seals (20) in at least as many compartments (21 and 22} as there are panels (3 and 4), whereby each compartment (21 and 22), together with the above-mentioned drainage holes (18 and 19), forms a separate drainage channel.