Sliding Door Driver Resilient Mounting for Reliable Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding window and door retraction devices, especially those for lift-and-slide doors, face issues with functional reliability as the damping function is disabled when the sliding sash is lowered, causing the driver to be decoupled from the projection, leading to incomplete engagement and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

The driver and projection are resiliently mounted perpendicular to the damping direction, ensuring engagement in a closed position, with a connecting element and gas pressure damper design that allows for stable damping forces without pivoting, and optional spring bias for secure coupling, using a T-shaped section or other mechanical connections for secure alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the driver is rigidly coupled to the projection in the damping direction, then the damping function is reliable, but the device cannot accommodate perpendicular movements without damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping function reliabilityVSAvoiddamage resistance during decoupling
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The driver is made movable relative to the housing in a direction perpendicular to the damping direction, allowing dynamic adjustment during operation. This enables the driver to decouple from the projection without damage when perpendicular movements occur, while maintaining reliable damping coupling when properly engaged

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The driver is divided into separate functional parts: a damping function unit that remains coupled to the housing, and a projection engagement unit that can move perpendicular to the damping direction. This segmentation allows independent optimization of damping reliability and damage resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If the driver is allowed to move perpendicular to damping direction, then damage during decoupling is prevented, but damping force stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage resistance during decouplingVSAvoiddamping force stability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A guide rail serves as an intermediary structure that constrains the driver's perpendicular movement while allowing it to move freely in the damping direction. The guide rail ensures the driver remains properly aligned with the projection engagement area, maintaining damping force stability during perpendicular movements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The perpendicular movement freedom is extracted as a separate degree of freedom from the damping function. The driver can move perpendicular to the damping direction without affecting the damping coupling, which remains stable and reliable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the damper is pivoted to achieve driver movement, then coupling flexibility is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling flexibilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pivoting mechanism is replaced with a linear guide system. Instead of rotating the damper to achieve driver movement, the driver slides linearly along a guide rail perpendicular to the damping direction, simplifying the mechanical structure while maintaining coupling flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The driver movement is shifted from rotational motion (pivoting) to translational motion in a perpendicular dimension. This dimensional change allows the driver to engage and disengage from the projection without pivoting the entire damper assembly, reducing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design enhances functional reliability by ensuring secure coupling and stable damping forces, preventing damage during decoupling and allowing for compact, concealed installation, maintaining effective operation even under heavy impact forces.

Implementation Method 1

a gas pressure damper that prestresses the driver in the direction of retraction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas pressure damping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

The projection can be biased into a protruding position by a spring and then pressed into the holder against the force of the spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring elasticity: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3034752B1Intake device for a sliding window or sliding door
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 HAUTAU
  • EP3034752B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3034752B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3034752B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

A retraction device for a sliding window or a sliding door (3), in particular a lift-and-slide door, comprises a driver (7) that is movable along a guide track (71, 72) on a housing (6); a linear damper (12) coupled to the driver (7), with a damper housing (13) and a piston and piston rod (14) movable in the damping direction within the damper housing (12); a projection (8) that can be coupled to the driver over a certain range of motion in order to decelerate a movement of the driver (7) relative to the housing (6);wherein the driver (7) has a receptacle (75) into which the projection (8) can be inserted, and a chamfer (76) is formed at least on one side of the driver (7) adjacent to the receptacle (75), wherein the driver (7) is resiliently mounted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the damping direction and/or the projection (8) is resiliently mounted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the damping direction.