Adjustable Fan Mounting Plate for Wall Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening devices for fans with prefabricated mounting openings often fail to accommodate dimensional deviations, leading to uneven installation and inability to adjust the fan's position, resulting in costly rework or component replacement due to misalignment and imprecise drilling.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device with a rotatable plate and semicircular receptacle, allowing for precise adjustment and secure attachment of fans to walls or ceilings using a screw dowel with a special thread that cuts an internal thread, enabling easy repositioning and reattachment without damaging the fan or fastening device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional mounting holes and screws are used to attach the fan to the wall, then the fan can be secured to the wall, but misalignment of the mounting holes prevents the fan from maintaining its intended position and makes readjustment impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachmentVSAvoidadjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting plate is designed with a slot instead of a fixed hole, allowing the mounting screw to move laterally within the slot. This dynamic configuration enables the fan to be adjusted to different positions while maintaining secure attachment, resolving the contradiction between reliable mounting and adjustability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If precise machining is required for the wall recess to mount the fan, then the fan can be mounted in the correct position, but dimensional deviations require reworking or replacement of mounting components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidtolerance to dimensional deviations
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting plate incorporates a slot with adjustable positioning, changing the geometric parameter from a fixed point (hole) to a movable line (slot). This allows the mounting position to be adjusted within the slot's length, accommodating dimensional deviations in the wall recess without requiring precise machining or component replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If mounting holes are provided on the rear panel of the fan housing, then the fan can be attached to the wall, but inaccuracies due to misaligned drill holes or incorrect marking prevent proper securing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure mountingVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting plate acts as an intermediary between the fan housing and the wall. Instead of requiring precise alignment between the fan's mounting holes and the wall's recess, the mounting plate's slot absorbs the misalignment, allowing the fan to be securely mounted even with inaccurate drilling or marking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Strength

If fastening screws are used to secure the fan to the wall, then the fan can be firmly attached, but excessive surface pressure during installation may damage the fan housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidsurface pressure damage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting plate is positioned and adjusted before the final tightening of the mounting screw. This preliminary action allows the fan to be correctly positioned and the mounting plate to be properly aligned with the wall recess before applying full clamping force, preventing excessive surface pressure that could damage the fan housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3279480B1Device for fixing a ventilator
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 SIEGENIA AUBI KG
  • EP3279480B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3279480B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3279480B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Fastening device 1 for fastening a fan 3, equipped with at least two mounting elements 2, to a wall 4 or a ceiling, with receiving elements 5 or bores for receiving fastening elements 6 or fastening screws for fixing the fan 3 arranged in the wall 4 or the ceiling, wherein the fastening device 1 is connected to the fan 3 in one piece or in a form-fit or force-fit manner in two parts and has an adjustment device 7 for the fastening element 6.