Integrated Wicket Sectional Door Sealing Against Water and Wind

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sectional doors with integrated revolving doors face challenges in maintaining permanent water tightness, resistance to wind loads, and airtightness, particularly due to gaps between the door leaf sections and the swing door.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of multiple sealing devices, including lateral and vertical seals, along with concealed hinges and adjustable brackets, to ensure absolute tightness between the sectional door sections and the swing door, while incorporating thermally insulated profiles to prevent thermal bridges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple sealing devices are added to ensure water tightness and airtightness between sectional door sections and swing door, then sealing performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater tightness and airtightnessVSAvoidsealing device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements nested sealing by placing multiple sealing elements (first sealing element, second sealing element, third sealing element) within the same gap space between the swing door and sectional door sections. The seals are arranged in concentric or layered configurations where inner seals are positioned within the gap and outer seals are positioned at the edges, creating a nested sealing system that maximizes sealing effectiveness within limited space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing system is divided into multiple independent sealing elements rather than using a single complex seal. Each sealing element (first, second, and third sealing elements) is a separate component that can be independently installed, maintained, and replaced. This segmentation allows for modular sealing that addresses different aspects of the sealing requirement (water tightness, airtightness, wind load resistance) through multiple simpler components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If sectional door leaf is divided into multiple panels connected by hinges, then ease of operation is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates due to interruptions in sections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor opening operationVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the swing door structure with the sectional door leaf by integrating the swing door panels into the existing sectional panels. The swing door is formed using the same panels that make up the sectional door leaf, with frame elements at the ends of panels serving dual purposes as both structural elements of the sectional door and as the frame for the swing door opening. This merging eliminates the need for separate structural reinforcements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The panels and frame elements serve multiple functions simultaneously. The same panels that provide the sectional door structure also form the swing door leaf. The frame elements at the panel ends serve as both structural connectors for the sectional door and as the enclosing frame for the swing door opening. This multi-functionality maintains structural integrity while enabling easy operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If swing door is integrated into sectional door leaf, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to alignment of hinge pivot axes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor configuration flexibilityVSAvoidhinge pivot axis alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric hinge positioning where the hinge pivot axes are deliberately placed at different locations - the swing door hinges are positioned in or adjacent to the plane of the door leaf's front surface, while the main door leaf hinges are positioned inside the door leaf in the plane of its front surface. This asymmetric arrangement allows for independent adjustment of each hinge position, facilitating precise alignment during installation without requiring symmetric constraints that would increase manufacturing difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge system is designed with dynamic adjustment capabilities, allowing the hinge pivot axes to be positioned flexibly during installation. The hinges can be mounted at various positions on the panels, and the pivot axes can be adjusted to achieve proper alignment. This dynamic positioning capability enables manufacturers and installers to compensate for tolerances and achieve precise alignment in the field rather than requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4098836B1Sectional gate
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 ALPHA DEUREN INT
  • EP4098836B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4098836B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4098836B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a sectional door (1) with an integrated revolving door, the sectional door leaf and the revolving door comprising identical, aligned sectional elements (12, 13) which are rotatably connected to one another in the same direction and, at least in the area of ​​the revolving door, the sectional elements (13) are connected to one another on their underside by a closing element (2), wherein the sectional elements (13) are provided on their outer lateral edges with guide rollers which engage in lateral guide arrangements, the sectional elements (12, 13) and the revolving door are closed with encompassing closures (21, 22) on their vertical cross-sectional sides, wherein the closure (22) has a spacer leg (40) whose extent corresponds to the cross-section of the sectional element (12).wherein at one end of the spacer leg (40) there is a projecting contact leg (30) with contact to the surface of the section element (12), and that cantilevered end legs (28, 71) are formed at the opposite end of the spacer leg (40), and that at least one shaft (33) runs parallel to the spacer leg (40) within the end (22), and that the end (21) has a spacer leg (42) whose extent corresponds to the cross-section of the section element (13), wherein at one end of the spacer leg (42) there is a projecting contact leg (31) with contact to the surface of the section element (13), and that at the opposite end of the spacer leg (42) a cantilevered end leg (20) is formed, and that at least one shaft (16) runs parallel to the spacer leg (42) within the end (22).