Sliding Door Guide System Using Magnetic Lifting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increased weight of building casings for improved thermal isolation has made existing sliding door guide systems require excessive force for opening and sliding, as they rely solely on mechanical levers and user strength to counteract gravity.

Innovation Solution

A guide system that incorporates a magnetic field within the guides to counteract gravitational force, using magnets to facilitate the transition from a resting to a sliding position, reducing the need for user strength by employing repulsive or attractive magnetic forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the weight of the door is increased to improve thermal isolation, then the thermal performance is improved, but the force required to open and slide the door increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal isolationVSAvoidforce required to open door
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies magnetic repulsion force between the magnet固定在the guide and the magnetic element固定在the door to counteract the gravitational force acting on the door. This magnetic anti-weight mechanism reduces the net force the user must exert to lift and slide the heavy door, resolving the contradiction between maintaining heavy construction for thermal isolation and reducing opening force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Device complexity

If mechanical levers alone are used to lift the door, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to excessive user force requirement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical system simplicityVSAvoidease of door opening
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces part of the mechanical lifting system with a magnetic field-based lifting mechanism. The magnet in the guide creates a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic element on the door, providing lifting force that substitutes for purely mechanical lever action. This reduces the operational force requirement while maintaining relatively simple device complexity.

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

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 magnetic field assists in lifting and sliding the door with reduced user effort, enhancing the ease of operation while maintaining stability and thermal isolation without requiring an electric power supply.

Implementation Method 1

The lifting means is configured in such a manner as to produce a magnetic field inside at least one of the guides. This magnetic field exerts force on the door having an opposite direction with respect to the gravitational force.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

The lifting means comprises a magnet. The magnetic field exerts force on the door having an opposite direction with respect to the gravitational force.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP2959084B1A guide system for a sliding door
Publication Date: 2018.03.07 ROTA INFISSI
  • EP2959084B1 patent drawingFigure 1~1a
  • EP2959084B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2959084B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A guide system (1) for a sliding door (101) comprises a pair of guides (3, 4) opposite each other to receive the respective opposite edges (103, 104) of a door (101); lifting means (5) for switching the door (101) from a resting position to a sliding position; the lifting means (5) is configured to produce a magnetic field inside one of the guides (3, 4) so as to bring the door (101 ) from the resting position to the sliding position.