Bidirectional Sliding Door Retraction Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bidirectional retraction devices for sliding doors require two separate unidirectional retraction devices, which are costly and mechanically complex, due to the need for dual locking mechanisms and damping elements.
Innovation Solution
A retraction device with a laterally displaceable carrier and central slide, coupled to side carriages via an energy storage arrangement, allowing for bidirectional operation with a single energy storage and damping system, featuring a control slide mechanism that couples and decouples the carriages based on movement direction, and a damping device with a cylinder and piston rod for controlled retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two separate unidirectional retraction devices are used for bidirectional retraction, then the sliding door can be retracted from both directions into the central position, but the device complexity and cost increase due to multiple locking mechanisms and damping elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate unidirectional retraction devices into a single bidirectional retraction device. The housing (10) contains a unified mechanism with a driver (20) that can engage with the sliding door from either side, and a single energy storage arrangement (70) with spring (71) that provides retraction force in both directions. This consolidation eliminates the need for duplicate locking mechanisms and damping elements while maintaining full bidirectional functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The single retraction device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can retract the sliding door from the left direction, from the right direction, and hold the door in the central position. The driver (20) with its central piece (21) and lateral claws (22, 23) can engage with the activator (4) regardless of which side the door is pulled from, making the mechanism universal for bidirectional operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two separate unidirectional retraction devices are used, then bidirectional retraction is achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases due to additional components and assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines what would traditionally require two separate devices into one integrated housing (10). The single energy storage arrangement (70) with spring (71), one damping device (60) with cylinder (62) and piston rod (61), and a unified driver (20) structure reduce the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, stocked, and assembled. This consolidation directly reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining bidirectional functionality.
3Device complexity
If a single energy storage arrangement is used for bidirectional retraction, then device complexity is reduced, but the retraction force distribution may become uneven in different directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric lateral claws (22, 23) on the driver (20) that are positioned to engage with the activator (4) from either side. The claws are designed with specific geometries and positions that ensure equal and opposite forces are generated during retraction regardless of which direction the door is pulled from. This asymmetric design compensates for potential force distribution issues while maintaining a single energy storage arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring (71) in the energy storage arrangement (70) is pre-tensioned to provide a baseline force that acts in opposition to the direction of door movement. When the door is pulled from either side, the spring generates a counteracting retraction force that is consistently directed toward the central position, ensuring reliable and balanced retraction performance in both directions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If control slides are used to couple and decouple side carriages, then bidirectional operation is enabled with a single energy storage arrangement, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control slides (400, 500) are designed to dynamically change the coupling state between the center slide (30) and side slides (40, 50) based on the direction of movement. As the driver (20) moves laterally in either direction, the control slides automatically engage or disengage the coupling pins (401, 501) with the coupling slots (35, 36), enabling the system to adapt its configuration in real-time without requiring complex external control mechanisms.
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
Enables efficient, cost-effective automatic retraction of sliding doors into a central position from both directions with reduced mechanical complexity and consistent retraction and damping performance in both directions.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (71) which is arranged in the middle region of the device (1) and which interacts with a winding device (72, 74) via cables acting on its ends
Implementation Method 2
The side carriages 40, 50 are also coupled to one another by a damping device (60), by which a movement of the side carriages toward one another is damped
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for retracting a movable furniture part, in particular a sliding door, into a central position, comprising a carrier (20), which is guided such as to be laterally movable in a housing (10) of the device (1), and a central slide (30), which is coupled to the carrier and guided in a laterally movable manner. The device also has two side slides (40, 50), which are guided in a laterally movable manner and which are arranged at a distance from each other in a movement direction x, wherein the side slides (40, 50) are coupled to each other by means of an energy storage assembly (70), by means of which a force from one of the side slides (40, 50) acts in the direction of the other side slide (50, 40). For each one of the side slides (40, 50), a respective control slider (400, 500) is provided. When the central slide (30) moves out of the central position, the particular side slide (40, 50) in the direction of which the central slide (30) moves is coupled to the central slide (30) by the control slider (400, 500), whereas the other side slide (40, 50) is fastened to the housing (10).