Spacer Panel Roller Shutter Assembly to Prevent Panel Abrasion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roller shutters with transparent panels suffer from abrasion and scratching during rolling and unrolling due to panel interaction, compromising their visual appeal and integrity.
Innovation Solution
A roller shutter assembly featuring spacers with alternating panels and grooves that allow flexible rotatable movement, limiting lateral and longitudinal movement, and nesting in a rolled position to prevent panel damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If transparent panels are used to allow visibility, then visual appeal is improved, but panel abrasion and scratching occur during rolling
Solution Approach 1:
A protective coating is applied to the transparent panels to serve as an intermediary layer that prevents direct contact and abrasion between panels during rolling operations, while maintaining the transparency and visual appeal of the shutters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a protective coating in advance before the rolling operation to cushion and prevent potential abrasion between panels, ensuring the transparent surfaces are protected during the rolling and unrolling cycles
2Volume of moving object
If panels roll together into tubular shape, then compact storage is achieved, but panels abrade each other
Solution Approach 1:
The protective coating acts as a mediator between adjacent panels during the rolling process, allowing panels to contact each other during rolling while preventing direct abrasion of the transparent surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface properties of the panels by applying a protective coating, changing the friction and contact characteristics to reduce abrasion during the rolling operation while maintaining the ability to roll into a compact tubular shape
3Reliability
If metal panels are used for security, then security is improved, but visibility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite material construction by combining transparent panels with protective coatings, creating a shutter system that provides both security through the panel structure and visibility through the transparent material, eliminating the need to choose between metal security panels and transparent visible panels
Data Source
AI summary
The roller shutter assembly is formed by a plurality of panels slidably received in a plurality of spacers all in an alternating fashion to form an elongate covering movable between a rolled and unrolled position. A connector extends between a connecting end of elongate covering, opposite a locking end, to connect to a rotatable shaft such that rotation of the shaft in one direction lifts the covering into a rolled position, and rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction drops the elongate covering into an unrolled position.The panels increase in width from the connecting end to the locking end, such that in the rolled position, the spacers nest together to stack and space apart the panels thereby limiting panel interaction. In the rolled position, the spacers nest together in layers with the intermediate panel possessing an intermediate width relative to adjacent panels to connect adjacent layers.