Sliding Folding Shutter Drive with Pivoting Levers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sliding and folding window shutters face challenges in achieving a simple and reliable automatic drive system that aligns shutter elements in a common plane, especially with four-leaf designs, due to complex designs and limited attraction force of drive motors.

Innovation Solution

A drive device using pivoting levers that pivot about vertical axes, with engagement parts designed to be displaceable, allows for a simple and reliable automatic operation of sliding and folding window shutters, enabling alignment of shutter elements in a common plane without modifying existing shutter elements or guide rails.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a linear drive interacts with the side edge of the second shutter element to open and close the shutter, then automatic operation is achieved, but the drive device becomes relatively complex in design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic operationVSAvoiddrive device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive device is segmented into two independent pivoting levers instead of one complex linear drive. The first pivoting lever (27) handles the first and second shutter elements, while the additional pivoting lever (35) handles the third and fourth shutter elements. This segmentation simplifies each individual drive component while achieving complete automatic operation of all shutter elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Extent of automation

If a linear drive is used to move the second shutter element along guide rails, then automatic operation is achieved, but alignment of shutter elements in a common plane cannot be achieved due to limited attraction force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic operationVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pivoting levers are designed with displaceable engagement parts that dynamically adapt during operation. The engagement parts can displace relative to each other, allowing the drive mechanism to accommodate variations in shutter element positions and achieve precise alignment in the closed state, overcoming the limited attraction force issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If the pivoting axis of the pivoting lever is spaced apart from the vertical axis of the shutter element, then a conventional manually operable shutter can be easily equipped with a drive device, but the engagement parts must be designed to be displaceable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration easeVSAvoidengagement parts design
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement parts are designed with controlled displacability, allowing them to move within specific ranges to accommodate the offset between pivoting axes. This dynamic design enables easy integration with conventional shutters while maintaining reliable mechanical engagement throughout the operation cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP1816298B1Slidable folding shutter
Publication Date: 2009.06.17 AST ALU SYST TECHN
  • EP1816298B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1816298B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1816298B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A sliding window shutter has a series of rail-mounted folding panels. The window shutters are opened by a drive system and closed about a vertical axis (28) by a first motor (29) that drives a first panel swivel lever (27) that engages with a first pushrod. The drive system incorporates a second motor (37) powering a second swivel lever (35) operating about a vertical axis (36) and initiates motion in a third panel.