Sliding Door Guide Assembly With Elastic Impact Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sliding doors in handling areas, particularly in the agri-food sector, frequently suffer damage from frontal impacts due to heavy machinery, as existing guide devices at the bottom of the doors are not adequately designed to absorb or distribute impact forces effectively.
Innovation Solution
A guide device for the lower part of sliding doors that includes an abutment capable of elastic deformation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, allowing separation of the carriage and rail, and features inclined surfaces and a cleat-notch system for energy dissipation during impacts, along with a translation device that defines an oblique trajectory for improved sealing and force distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid guide device is used at the bottom of the sliding door, then the guiding function is stable, but the device is vulnerable to damage from frontal impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment is designed with elastic deformation capability to absorb impact energy before it reaches the rigid rail and carriage components. This preliminary cushioning through elastic deformation protects the guiding function from impact damage while maintaining stability during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment's physical state is changed from rigid to elastically deformable, allowing it to dynamically adjust its stiffness parameter. Under normal conditions, it provides stable guiding; under impact conditions, it deforms to absorb energy, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and impact resistance
2Strength
If the abutment is designed to deform elastically under impact, then impact damage is reduced, but the structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The guide device is segmented into distinct functional components: the rigid rail and carriage for stable guiding, and the elastically deformable abutment for impact absorption. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its properties without compromising the whole system's integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment acts as an intermediary element between the rigid rail and the door carriage. It mediates the impact forces by deforming elastically, protecting the structural integrity of the rigid components while still providing impact resistance
3Manufacturing precision
If the carriage and rail are designed to remain firmly connected, then guiding precision is maintained, but impact forces cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between carriage and rail is made dynamic rather than static. The abutment can deform elastically under impact to allow temporary separation, then return to its original position to restore the guiding connection. This dynamic behavior maintains guiding precision during normal operation while providing impact resistance
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 guide device effectively dissipates impact energy, preventing damage to the door assembly by allowing separation of the carriage and rail, while ensuring proper sealing and guiding of the door in the closed position, thus reducing the risk of damage from frontal impacts and enhancing the sealing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the abutment opposing a movement of the carriage relative to the rail is able to deform elastically under the effect of a force in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, so as to allow separation of the carriage and the rail
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a sliding door (12) guiding device, of the type comprising: - a rail (28) intended to be fixed against a vertical panel (14), the rail extending along a longitudinal axis (X), - a carriage (34) intended to be fixed to the door, the carriage being provided with means (76) for sliding along the rail, the sliding means comprising a stop (66, 74) opposing a movement of the carriage relative to the rail in a direction (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X), characterized in that said abutment is able to deform elastically under the effect of a force in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, so as to allow separation of the first carriage and the first rail.