Sliding Door Pivot Seal Actuation for Gap Tightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sliding sectional doors face challenges in sealing the gap between the front side edge of the door and the frame, which can allow air, water, and debris to enter, while also potentially interfering with the sliding and pivoting mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An articulated seal with a free end that pivots between a rest and sealing position, actuated by the door's movement, is integrated into the frame to ensure tightness without hindering the door's operation, using an elastic gasket and a carrier profile that secures to both the door and the frame, allowing seamless sliding and pivoting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal is integrated into the frame to close the gap between the door and frame, then the tightness of the construction is improved, but the sliding and pivoting movement of the door is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is designed with a pivotable carrier that transitions from a retracted position during door movement to a sealing position when the door is closed. This dynamic adjustment allows the seal to adapt its state based on the operational phase, resolving the contradiction between maintaining tightness and enabling movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal carrier is actuated automatically by the door's own movement through an actuating means that detects when the door is closed. This self-actuating mechanism eliminates the need for external control systems, allowing the seal to serve itself by transitioning to sealing position only when the door is properly closed.
2Reliability
If a conventional seal is arranged between the frame and front side panel, then the gap sealing is improved, but the sliding and pivoting operation is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The seal carrier pivots between a retracted position that clears the door path during sliding and pivoting operations, and a sealing position that contacts the door when closed. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction by making the seal active only when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal carrier is positioned in advance in a retracted state before the door begins its sliding or pivoting movement, ensuring that the seal does not interfere with the operation. The seal then transitions to sealing position as the door approaches its closed state.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the seal is positioned to bear against the door in closed position, then the prevention of air and water ingress is improved, but the movement trajectory of the door is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The seal carrier dynamically changes its position relative to the door, being retracted during movement to allow full trajectory freedom, and extending to bear against the door only in the closed position to prevent ingress. This resolves the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and movement freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal carrier acts as an intermediary element between the fixed frame and the moving door, mediating the sealing function by being present only when needed. It transfers the sealing function to the door-closed state without constraining the door's movement path during operation.
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 seals the gap between the door and frame, preventing air and water ingress while maintaining smooth operation of the sliding and pivoting mechanisms, ensuring the door's functionality is not compromised.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic gasket and a carrier profile that secures to both the door and the frame
Implementation Method 2
An articulated seal with a free end that pivots between a rest and sealing position, actuated by the door's movement
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The assembly has frames (6a, 6b) carrying a pivot joint (7) whose free end ensures sealing of a construction. The pivot joint comprises pivoting units (8b, 10a) moving between rest position, in which the joint is located at distance from current position of a sliding door in covering position of an opening, and sealing position, in which the joint is applied against the door in the covering position of the opening. An actuating unit (14) of the joint is activated during closing of the sliding door.