Soft-Close Fitting Damping Mechanism for Sliding Sash Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The swiveling-in movement of heavy sliding or tilting sashes is difficult and jerky, and existing solutions do not ensure a smooth, uniform closing movement, leading to the sash accelerating too quickly and potentially impacting the window frame.
Innovation Solution
A soft-closing fitting with an energy storage unit and a damping element, where the damping element opposes the force released by the energy storage unit, reducing the closing speed and providing a gentle, even closing motion by counteracting the energy storage unit's force, ensuring the sash is guided into the closed position with minimal user effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an energy storage unit is used to assist the closing movement of heavy sashes, then the user effort is reduced, but the closing movement becomes jerky and the sash accelerates too quickly
Solution Approach 1:
A damping element is introduced as an intermediary component between the energy storage unit and the sash. This damper absorbs and dissipates excess energy during the closing movement, acting as a mediator that smooths out the jerky motion while preserving the force-assisting function of the energy storage unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element changes the velocity parameter of the closing movement over time. It provides higher damping during the initial acceleration phase to control speed, and reduces damping as the sash approaches the closed position, allowing smooth deceleration and preventing impact.
2Productivity
If the sash is allowed to accelerate quickly in its rotary movement, then the closing action is faster, but the sash hits the window frame too hard and springs back
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element is positioned to provide cushioning action before the sash completes its closing movement. It pre-absorbs kinetic energy and provides progressive resistance that prevents the sash from gaining excessive speed, thereby avoiding impact with the frame and subsequent springing back.
3Speed
If a damping element is added to control the closing speed, then the closing movement becomes smooth, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element is integrated with the existing energy storage unit and arm mechanism of the fitting. By merging the damping function with the force-assisting mechanism, the patent achieves smooth speed control without adding a completely separate, complex damping system.
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 damping element ensures a smooth and uniform closing movement, reducing the initial and final closing speeds, preventing the sash from impacting the frame and giving the impression that the sash is closing by itself, with the user only needing to initiate the movement.
Implementation Method 1
an energy storage unit which is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the fitting and absorbs energy when the fitting is pivoted out
Implementation Method 2
a damping element is provided which acts against the released force of the elongated energy storage unit
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a soft-close fitting which has improved inward pivotal properties for a sliding sash or a tilt-and-slide sash for the controlled movement of the sash from a position in which the sash is open in a plane parallel to the frame into a closed position. Two movement elements (A, B) are longitudinally mobile, a longitudinal movement of the sash thus being possible. The two movement elements (A, B) are connected by a connecting rod (z) which maintains them at an invariable distance to each other and allows their simultaneous movement. A deployment arm (a, b; b') is pivotally hinged to each of the two movement elements (A, B). A parallel opening arrester (r, f') maintains a position of deployment of the arms (a, b) during a movement of the fitting by means of the movement elements (A, B). An auxiliary arm (h, h') is rotationally coupled (a2, b2') to one (a, b') of the deployment arms on one of its ends and is longitudinally guided (h1, 12; h1', 12') on the other end along the connecting rod (z). A damping element (10, 10') is coupled on one end to the slidable end of the auxiliary arm (h, h') and is arranged (w) on the other end on the connecting rod (z) so as to be not displaceable. The inward pivotal movement of a heavy sliding sash is thus easier to handle for the user and simpler (easy and at the same time reliable as well as smooth and uniform).