Sliding Leaf Drive Device Height Adjustment Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drive devices for sliding sashes or lift-sliding sashes in windows or doors are costly, require significant installation space, and are difficult to assemble, disassemble, and adjust, while also compromising aesthetics and safety due to visible components and complex structural integration.

Innovation Solution

A drive device with a drive motor and drive roller arranged on the sash side, featuring a drive belt wound around deflection rollers, a height adjustment device with spring-loaded adapter elements, and a concealed design that allows for easy assembly and adjustment, enabling remote or manual operation with a hybrid actuation system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional drive system is mounted visibly on the window or door, then the drive function is achieved, but the appearance is significantly detracted and safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drive unit is extracted from the visible exterior and concealed within the window frame structure. The housing is integrated into the frame in such a way that it is hidden from external view, eliminating the aesthetic harm while preserving the drive function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive unit housing is nested within the window frame structure. The housing fits into a recess or cavity in the frame, with adapter elements that connect to the frame's internal structure, effectively hiding the drive components within the existing frame geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If concealed drives are integrated into the frame, then aesthetics are improved, but the milling effort required is very high and installation becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidmilling effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The drive system is segmented into modular components: the housing, the drive unit itself, and separate adapter elements. The adapter elements are designed as distinct components that attach to the frame, eliminating the need for complex milling of the frame while maintaining the concealed appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter elements are pre-formed with connection features that mate with standard frame structures. This preliminary preparation of connection interfaces allows for simple attachment without requiring complex on-site milling or modification of the frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the drive components are spaced apart from the guide rail, then the drive function is achieved, but assembly becomes complicated due to individual components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive functionVSAvoidassembly simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is designed to contain multiple drive components (motor, drive roller, deflection rollers) in a single integrated unit. The adapter elements serve dual purposes: mounting the housing to the frame and providing connection points for the drive belt, thereby merging mounting and drive functions into a single assembly structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Manufacturing precision

If a height adjustment device is added to the drive unit, then optimal sash alignment is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesash alignmentVSAvoiddrive unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The height adjustment device incorporates a spring element that provides dynamic, adjustable height compensation. The spring allows the adapter element to move vertically relative to the housing, enabling automatic adjustment to compensate for height variations in the frame or sash, thereby achieving precise alignment without complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution provides a cost-effective, space-efficient, and safe drive system that can be easily assembled and adjusted, maintaining optimal sash alignment and operation while minimizing visible components and ensuring secure, precise control.

Implementation Method 1

a spring element (29) for clamping the housing (15) relative to the adapter element (11, 12)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3976914B1Drive device for a slidable leaf in the form of a sliding leaf or a slidable lift-and-slide leaf of a window or a door
Publication Date: 2023.05.24 SIEGENIA AUBI KG
  • EP3976914B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3976914B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3976914B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a drive device (1) for a slidable leaf (2) in the form of a sliding leaf or a slidable lift-and-slide leaf of a window or a door (3), with a frame (4) in which the leaf (2) is slidably held. In order to slide the leaf (2), the drive device (1) contains a drive motor (5) arranged on the leaf in a housing (15) and a drive roller (6) which is driven on the drive motor and around which a drivingly connected drive belt (8) is wrapped which is fixed to the frame (4) in a guide rail (7) and is guided by means of two deflecting rollers (9) of the drive device (1) which are rotatably mounted in the housing (15). The drive device (1) comprises a height adjustment device (10), by means of which the distance H in the height of the housing (15) arranged in the leaf (2), together with the components of the drive device (1) that are connected in the housing (15), can be self-regulatingly adjusted vertically relative to the guide rail (7) fastened to the frame (4), while a constant distance X of the drive belt (8) from the housing (15) is maintained, adapter elements (11, 12) of the height adjustment device (10), which are spring-loaded and fastened to the leaf (2) being connected to the housing (15) for vertical sliding with the latter.