Swing Door Mandrel Sealing Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing up-and-over gate devices cannot be closed in a watertight manner, allowing rain, snow, sleet, and floodwater to penetrate, which is a significant drawback in various applications.

Innovation Solution

The gate device incorporates a mandrel with a tapered, acutely angled lower end that interacts with a gate frame stop rail to create a watertight seal, combined with a lever mechanism and pivot point bearings to ensure a tight closure, utilizing a manually operated rotary element and lever elements to enhance the sealing effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional gate devices are used, then the gate can be opened and closed, but the gate cannot be closed in a watertight manner allowing water penetration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewatertight closureVSAvoidwater penetration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mandrel acts as an intermediary element between the gate leaf and the gate frame stop rail. It transfers and concentrates the closing force to create a reliable watertight seal, mediating the interaction between the moving gate leaf and the fixed frame structure to ensure effective water prevention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mandrel's tapered lower end changes the geometric parameter of the sealing interface, creating an acute angle that enhances the sealing effect. This parameter change allows the mandrel to effectively press the sealing strip against the stop rail, transforming the closing motion into effective water prevention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a mandrel with tapered lower end is used to press the sealing strip against the stop rail, then a watertight seal is created, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewatertight sealVSAvoidsealing mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing mechanism is segmented into distinct functional elements: the mandrel for force transmission, the tapered lower end for geometric advantage, the sealing strip for water prevention, and the stop rail for structural support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the sealing strip actively seek contact with the stop rail, the mandrel inverted approach presses the sealing strip firmly against the stop rail from the gate leaf side. This inversion of the sealing action ensures more reliable contact and effective water prevention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the mandrel is mounted to be vertically displaceable in the gate leaf, then the sealing position can be achieved, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing positionVSAvoidmandrel positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mandrel is designed to be automatically positioned into the sealing position through the closing motion of the gate leaf itself. The vertical displacement and engagement with the stop rail occur automatically as part of the normal closing operation, eliminating the need for separate positioning actions and maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The mandrel is pre-positioned and guided within the gate leaf structure, with its lower end tapered to automatically engage with the stop rail as the gate closes. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the sealing action occurs automatically without requiring additional operational steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This configuration achieves a time-unlimited watertight design, effectively pressing the gate wing sealing strip against the gate frame stop rail, preventing water ingress and ensuring a reliable seal, even when subjected to weather-related elements.

Implementation Method 1

The lower end of the mandrel tapers to a point, with the mandrel being mounted in the area of the inner surface of the gate leaf in such a way that when the mandrel is transferred into a sealing position, the tip of the mandrel can reach behind the gate frame stop rail... The pointed lower end of the mandrel has a flank running at an acute angle to the vertical, which exerts a leverage effect on the gate wing sealing strip with the gate wing during the process of transferring the mandrel into a sealing position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLeverage effect: Lever

Implementation Method 2

this very effective mechanism for pressing the gate wing sealing strip and gate frame stop rail against one another acts additionally and independently of the pressure of the gate wing sealing strip against the gate frame stop rail built up by the interaction of a pivot point bearing with a lever element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3163003B1Waterproof swing door device
Publication Date: 2018.07.04 TORBAU SCHWABEN
  • EP3163003B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3163003B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3163003B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

In a swing gate device (100) with a pivotably mounted gate leaf (110), which can be reversibly pivoted from a first position, in which the gate leaf (110) is open, to a second position, in which the gate leaf (110) abuts a gate frame (120) having two horizontal frame struts (121) and two vertical frame struts (122) in the area of ​​its outer edge and thereby closes the gate frame (120), wherein, in the closed state of the gate leaf (110), a gate frame stop rail (123) arranged in the lower area of ​​the periphery of the gate frame (110) is opposite a gate leaf sealing strip (124), a watertight barrier is created at least in a lower, ground-level section of the gate, at least against the ingress of rain, snow and sleet.that at least one pin (190) is mounted on the inner surface of the gate leaf (110) and is slidably mounted perpendicular to the surface normal of the gate leaf (110), and which can be moved from a neutral position, in which a lower end of the pin (190) is free, into a sealing position, in which the lower end of the pin (190) engages a ground-level gate frame stop rail (123) in order to press the gate leaf sealing strip (124) against the gate frame stop rail (123) for the purpose of a watertight seal between the gate leaf sealing strip (124) and the gate frame stop rail (123).