Silent Sliding Door Trolley with Elastomeric Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding door systems fail to provide a cost-effective, durable, and silent operation by effectively reducing noise and vibrations during door movement, as previous solutions either focus on damping at end positions or utilize complex energy storage mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The sliding door system incorporates trolleys with a housing, rollers, and an elastomeric filling between a nut and socket, along with a self-locking device and shock absorber, to absorb noise and vibrations, featuring a monolithic threaded bolt and nut assembly with a beveled cone design for secure attachment and a honeycomb structure for lightness and stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional trolleys are used for sliding doors, then the door can move along the rail, but noise and vibrations are generated during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating an elastomeric filling material within the trolley housing that cushions and absorbs noise and vibrations generated during door movement. This cushioning element is pre-installed in the housing to mitigate harmful acoustic effects before they propagate, resolving the contradiction between enabling door movement and reducing noise/vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric filling material serves as an intermediary between the moving door components and the surrounding environment. This intermediate material absorbs and dampens vibrations and noise, acting as a mediator that allows the door to move smoothly while preventing the transmission of harmful acoustic effects to the exterior.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If end position damping mechanisms are added to reduce noise at door ends, then noise at end positions is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the noise reduction function into the existing trolley housing structure by incorporating elastomeric filling material within the housing. This combines the structural support function of the housing with the noise damping function, eliminating the need for separate end-position damping mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity while still addressing noise at end positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The trolley housing is designed to serve multiple functions: structural support, mounting for rollers, and noise damping through the elastomeric filling. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for additional specialized components for end-position noise control, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If energy storage mechanisms are implemented for automatic opening/closing, then abnormal operation handling is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by incorporating a self-locking device that automatically locks the door in position without requiring external energy storage mechanisms. The self-locking feature provides abnormal operation handling capability through passive mechanical means rather than active energy storage systems, reducing complexity while maintaining adaptability.
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 system achieves a significant noise reduction of 20 dB compared to traditional systems, ensuring efficient, durable, and cost-effective operation while maintaining smooth and silent door movement.
Implementation Method 1
The space between the nut and the socket is filled with an elastomeric filling which is bonding the nut to the housing. Measured rate of noise reduction is of the order of 20 dB.
Implementation Method 2
an elastomeric filling which is bonding the nut to the housing... remarkably reduce noise and vibrations generated during movement
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A sliding door system is provided with at least one trolley (1) movable on one or more rails (2). The trolley (1) comprises a housing (3) having one or more rollers (4), a nut (5) mounted in the housing (3), and a threaded bolt (6) assembled with the nut (5). The housing (3) has a socket (7) which has horizontal dimensions greater than corresponding horizontal dimensions of the nut (5), and the nut (5) is mounted in the socket (7) in the housing (3) so that the space between the nut (5) and the socket (7) is filled with an elastomeric filling (8) of hardness ranging from 60 to 85 durometers in Shore A scale, bonding the nut (5) to the housing (3). The bottom part (5A) of the nut (5) and the bottom part (7A) of the socket (7) have a shape of bevelled cones with larger bases facing downwards. The diameter of larger base of conical bottom part (5A) of the nut (5) is slightly smaller than smaller base of conical bottom part (7A) of the socket (7). The roller (4) is assembled on an axle (10) which is mounted in a plain or ball bearing (11). The bottom part of the threaded bolt (6) is provided with at least one self-locking nut (14). At least one hanger (15, 16) for mounting the door leaf is immobilized between the self-locking nuts (14) on the threaded bolt (6) screwed into the nut (5). Alternatively the threaded bolt (6) and the nut (5) are an inseparable monolithic structure, preferably made by casting the nut (5) with a steel insert of the threaded bolt (6). The system comprises at least one self-locking device (17) cooperating with the trolley (1) and a stop (21) fixed to the top of the rail (2).