Sliding Door Assembly Low Sill Height Sealing Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sliding door and window assemblies with thick multiple glazed panels present a harmonious visual appearance challenge due to the separate planes of fixed and sliding panels in closed positions, and require strong mechanisms for perpendicular displacement, which is impractical for low sill height designs, especially in wheelchair-friendly constructions.
Innovation Solution
A sliding door or window assembly with a low bottom sill height is achieved by incorporating a sealing plate between the wagon and the bottom sill, which establishes upper and lower sealing interfaces above and below the wagon's edge, allowing the sill height to be reduced and enabling easier access with a robust displacement mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional displacement mechanism is used to displace the sliding panel perpendicular to its plane, then the sealing between the sliding panel and bottom sill is maintained, but the bottom sill height becomes too high for wheelchair-friendly access
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into two separate sealing interfaces: an upper sealing interface between the sliding panel and the sealing plate, and a lower sealing interface between the sealing plate and the bottom sill. This segmentation allows the sealing plate to be positioned lower than the wagon, reducing the bottom sill height while maintaining effective sealing through the distributed sealing interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing plate is introduced as an intermediary element between the wagon and the bottom sill. This sealing plate serves as a mediator that establishes sealing interfaces both above and below the wagon's uppermost edge, allowing the bottom sill to be lowered while maintaining the sealing function through the additional lower sealing interface.
2Shape
If the sliding panel and fixed panel are arranged in the same plane when closed, then a harmonious visual appearance is achieved, but a strong mechanism is required to displace the thick sliding panel perpendicular to its plane
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing and displacement function is segmented across multiple components: the sealing plate positioned below the wagon, the wagon itself, and the displacement mechanism. This segmentation allows the displacement mechanism to work with a reduced perpendicular displacement distance since the sealing plate can be positioned lower, thereby reducing the strength requirements while maintaining the co-planar visual appearance.
3Ease of operation
If the sealing interface is positioned above the wagon's uppermost edge, then the sliding panel can be displaced perpendicular to its plane, but the bottom sill height increases reducing accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is divided into upper and lower sealing interfaces. The upper sealing interface remains positioned above the wagon's uppermost edge to enable perpendicular displacement of the sliding panel, while the lower sealing interface is positioned below the wagon by introducing the sealing plate. This segmentation allows the bottom sill to be lowered for better accessibility while maintaining the displacement capability through the upper sealing interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing arrangement is extended into the vertical dimension by positioning the sealing plate below the wagon, creating a lower sealing interface. This vertical dimensionality change allows the bottom sill height to be reduced while the upper sealing interface above the wagon continues to enable the necessary perpendicular displacement of the sliding panel.
Data Source
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AI summary
A sliding door or window assembly (1) comprising: a frame (2) having a bottom sill (20), said bottom sill having a sealing surface (23), a sliding panel (4) moveable between an open position and a closed position, said sliding panel having a bottom sealing surface (31) which is sealed against the sealing surface (23) of the bottom sill (20) of the frame (2) in the closed position of the sliding panel (4) to provide a sealing interface between the bottom sill and the sliding panel, a track (3), a wagon (10) arranged to be displaceable along the track, and a displacement mechanism (12) connecting the sliding panel (4) and the wagon (10), said displacement mechanism arranged such that the sliding panel is displaceable with respect to the wagon in a direction having a vector component which is perpendicular to the plane of the sliding panel. The assembly further comprises a sealing plate (40) which in the closed position of the sliding panel is arranged between the wagon (10) and the sealing surface (23) of the bottom sill (20), is provided with an upper sealing surface (42) which establishes an upper sealing interface between the sealing plate (40) and the sliding panel (4) and which comprises a portion which is located above the uppermost edge (14) of the wagon (10) and is provided with a lower sealing surface (42) which establishes a lower sealing interface between the sealing plate (40) and the sealing surface (23) of the bottom sill (20) and which comprises a portion which is located below the uppermost edge (14) of the wagon (10). In this way, an assembly is provided with a much lower bottom sill height than prior art assemblies.