Attachment structure for water heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water heater attachment structures require strict alignment, are difficult to visually check, and do not allow for fine adjustments after installation, especially when the wall is weak or non-existent, making the process labor-intensive and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
An attachment structure featuring a first metal fitting with a support portion and a second metal fitting with an engagement portion that can be easily aligned from above, allowing the water heater to be securely attached to a wall surface without strict alignment, with the ability to slide horizontally for fine adjustments and prevent incomplete engagement states through design features like oblique extensions and cutout portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional attachment structures use screws for temporary fixing and hanging holes on the back surface, then the water heater can be fixed to the wall, but strict alignment is required and visual check is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional attachment approach by moving from back-surface attachment to front-surface attachment. The engagement portion and support portion are positioned on the front surface of the water heater, allowing workers to visually check alignment from the front rather than from the difficult-to-reach back surface. This inversion eliminates the need for strict alignment while maintaining attachment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary engagement portion that extends from the front surface of the water heater and a corresponding support portion on the wall. This intermediary structure mediates between the water heater and the wall, providing a visible alignment reference and eliminating the need for complex back-surface alignment procedures.
2Reliability
If the water heater is large and heavy, then it can be installed on the wall, but the attachment work becomes difficult and burdensome for one worker
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the attachment point from the back surface to the front surface, the patent allows a single worker to easily align and attach the heavy water heater. The front-surface engagement portion provides a visible guide that eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures, making the attachment process manageable for one person despite the weight of the water heater.
3Reliability
If the attachment position is decided in advance, then the water heater can be fixed securely, but fine adjustment of the position cannot be performed after attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds dimensional flexibility by allowing the engagement portion to move horizontally along the support portion. This horizontal movement capability provides fine adjustment in the lateral direction while maintaining secure attachment, enabling position optimization after initial installation without compromising attachment security.
4Ease of operation
If the water heater needs to be slid in the lateral direction during attachment, then installation can be performed, but it cannot be employed when the installation place is in a recessed portion or where obstacles exist
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the attachment approach to use front-surface engagement portions, the patent eliminates the need for lateral sliding during attachment. The engagement portion can be directly positioned and engaged with the support portion, making the attachment process feasible in recessed portions and locations with obstacles where lateral sliding would be blocked.
5Ease of operation
If the bracket portion is inserted from above into the insertion space, then the water heater can be installed, but there is a possibility of incomplete insertion being overlooked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual indicators (analogous to color changes in detection) by making the engagement state visible from the front surface. The engagement portion and support portion are designed so that proper engagement can be visually confirmed from the front, eliminating the risk of overlooking incomplete insertion that occurs with hidden back-surface attachment mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an attachment structure for a water heater capable of easily and securely attaching the water heater to a wall surface without performing strict alignment, and capable of fine adjustment of an attachment position of the water heater even after the attachment. The attachment structure for the water heater includes a first metal fitting (1) having a wall surface attachment portion (11) configured to be attached to a wall surface (W), and a second metal fitting (2) having an instrument attachment portion (23) configured to be attached to a back surface of the instrument body (3). In the wall surface attachment portion 11, a support portion (12) configured to hang and support a weight of the water heater is extended in a direction separate from the wall surface (W). In the instrument attachment portion (23), an engagement portion configured to engage with the support portion (12) from above is extended in a direction separate from the instrument body (3), and a lateral length of the support portion (12) is set to enough length to slide the engagement portion in a horizontal direction.