Adjustable Mounting Bracket Pin Assembly for Rack Hole Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mounting brackets face installation difficulties due to non-adjustable pins that cannot match the varying hole distances in equipment racks, leading to significant resistance and incomplete assembly, especially when there are large tolerances between holes.
Innovation Solution
A mounting bracket design featuring a pin assembly with a protrusion and fixing member, allowing transverse adjustment of pins to accommodate different hole spacings, comprising a pin, protrusion, and fixing member with a shank and head, where the protrusion is movable within an elongate hole, enabling proper alignment and engagement with equipment rack holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pins on the mounting bracket are fixed in position, then the structure is simple and stable, but the installation becomes difficult when hole distances have large tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is designed with a movable protrusion that can slide laterally within the elongate hole of the end plate. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the pin to adapt to varying hole distances in equipment racks while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The protrusion moves freely within the elongate hole to accommodate tolerance variations, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the pin is made adjustable by allowing the protrusion to move laterally within the elongate hole. This parameter change enables the pin to match different hole distances in equipment racks. The fixing member can secure the protrusion at different positions within the elongate hole, providing both adaptability and structural stability without excessive complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the pins are engaged with holes with very small gap, then the connection is precise, but the installation resistance becomes significant and assembly may be incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion is designed to move laterally within the elongate hole, allowing the pin to self-adjust during installation. This dynamic adjustment eliminates installation resistance by enabling the pin to match the actual hole position, while still achieving precise engagement when properly installed. The movement capability ensures complete assembly without excessive force.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongate hole acts as an intermediary element between the pin and the equipment rack holes. It provides a range of motion for the protrusion, allowing the pin to accommodate tolerance variations in the equipment rack holes. This intermediary mechanism maintains precise engagement while significantly reducing installation resistance compared to fixed-position pins.
3Reliability
If the mounting bracket uses fixed pins, then the structure is straightforward, but the rail may have significant resistance and drop from the equipment rack
Solution Approach 1:
The movable protrusion within the elongate hole provides a simple yet effective dynamic adjustment mechanism that ensures reliable rail connection. By allowing lateral movement during installation, the pin achieves proper alignment with equipment rack holes, eliminating gaps that could cause the rail to drop. The fixing member secures the adjusted position, maintaining connection reliability without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
4Manufacturing precision
If rack-mount module has small tolerance, then the manufacturing precision is high, but the pins cannot be properly adjusted to complete installation
Solution Approach 1:
The movable protrusion design provides the necessary adjustability to accommodate small tolerances in rack-mount modules. The protrusion can slide within the elongate hole to match the precise hole positions in high-precision equipment racks, while the fixing member secures the final position. This dynamic adjustment ensures proper installation even when manufacturing tolerances are tight.
Data Source
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AI summary
A mounting bracket (102) includes an end plate (108) perpendicularly extending from a side plate (106) and having an elongate hole (112). A pin assembly (104) includes a pin (114), a protrusion (118) and a fixing member (116), wherein the pin (114) is connected to the protrusion (118) and contacts the end plate (108). The protrusion (118) is located in and movable in the elongate hole (112). The thickness of the protrusion (118) is larger than that of the end plate (108). The fixing member (116) includes a head (122) and a shank (124) extending from the head (122). The shank (124) connects the pin (114) and the protrusion (118). By this arrangement, the fixing member (116) and the pin (114) clamps the protrusion (118) to be movably engaged with the elongate hole (112). The pin (114) is adjustably moved in the elongate hole (112) by the protrusion (118) in the elongate hole (112) of the end plate (108).