Die-Cast Sliding Door Roller Carrier With Integrated Guide Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding door fittings require numerous components for assembly and guidance, which complicates the process and may not provide sufficient load-bearing capacity.

Innovation Solution

A sliding door fitting design featuring a die-cast roller carrier with integrated cam guide elements and a stamped and bent retaining element, allowing for reduced component count and enhanced load-bearing capacity through adjustable and reinforced structural features.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If numerous separate components are used for assembly and guidance, then the fitting can be assembled with standard parts, but the assembly process becomes complex and the load-bearing capacity is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide element is integrated directly into the roller carrier as a single die-cast component, merging the roller carrier and guide element into one unified structure. This eliminates the need for separate guide elements and reduces the total number of components while maintaining guidance functionality through the integrated cam profile and guide edges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The roller carrier is manufactured using die-casting process, creating a composite structure that combines metal strength with integrated plastic-like guide surfaces. This allows the roller carrier to achieve high load-bearing capacity while incorporating complex guide geometries that would be difficult to achieve with separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If multiple separate guide elements are used, then guidance functionality is achieved, but the number of components increases and assembly is complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide element is integrated directly into the roller carrier as a single die-cast component, merging the roller carrier and guide element into one unified structure. This eliminates the need for separate guide elements and reduces the total number of components while maintaining guidance functionality through the integrated cam profile and guide edges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If the roller carrier is reinforced with hollow chambers, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The die-casting process parameters are optimized to create hollow chambers within the roller carrier structure. By controlling the casting parameters, the hollow chambers are formed automatically during the single-step casting process, reinforcing the roller carrier without requiring additional manufacturing steps or assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3372768B1Fitting for a sliding door
Publication Date: 2021.12.29 HETTICH HEINZE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3372768B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3372768B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3372768B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A fitting for a sliding door (2, 3) or folding sliding door has a retaining element (4, 6) on which the sliding door (2, 3) can be fixed, a roller carrier (5, 7) held by the retaining element (4, 6) on which at least one roller (8) is rotatably mounted, wherein the roller carrier (5, 7) is adjustable relative to the retaining element (4, 6), wherein the roller carrier (5, 7) is designed as a die-cast part, on which at least one first and/or second guide elements (54, 59, 74, 79) for guiding at least one adjusting element (12, 18) for adjusting the roller relative to the retaining element in a direction parallel (y) and/or vertical (z) to the axis of rotation (D) of the roller are integrally formed.