Balustrade U-Profile Rail Adhesive Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of glass railings with U-profile rails is time-consuming and expensive due to the need for precise vertical alignment and complex components, and the production costs are high due to the requirement for a lattice structure in the outer support profiles.
Innovation Solution
The U-shaped profile rail design with parallel legs and a web, where an adhesive layer locks the plate and U-profile rails together during assembly, reducing the need for on-site alignment and using extrusion-produced inner U-profile rails with two parallel legs and a web, which are less costly than the complex lattice structure outer rails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional U-profile rails with lattice structures and multiple components are used for vertical alignment, then the structural stability and legal height requirements are met, but the assembly becomes extremely time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The railing system is divided into modular components: outer support rails fixed to the substrate and inner U-profile rails attached to glass panels. These segmented modules can be independently manufactured and then quickly assembled on-site, reducing the time-consuming alignment process while maintaining structural stability through the standardized connection interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner U-profile rails are pre-formed with curved recesses that match the outer support rail geometry before assembly. This preliminary shaping of connection features allows for rapid on-site assembly without time-consuming alignment operations, as the components are designed to self-align during installation.
2Reliability
If complex lattice structure outer support profiles are used to meet legal height requirements, then the structural integrity is ensured, but the manufacturing costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The complex lattice structure is extracted and replaced with simpler outer support rails that have minimal geometric features. The essential structural function is maintained through the U-profile inner rails that surround the glass panels, eliminating the need for expensive complex outer profiles while still meeting legal height and safety requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses simple, cost-effective extruded U-profile rails instead of expensive complex lattice structures. These simplified components achieve the necessary structural performance through their geometric design and adhesive bonding, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining adequate structural integrity for the application.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple components and fastening screws are used for vertical alignment, then the precision of panel positioning is improved, but the device complexity and number of parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inner U-profile rail combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides vertical support, horizontal restraint, and the curved recesses that enable precise alignment. This merging of alignment and support functions into one integrated component eliminates the need for separate alignment mechanisms and reduces the total number of parts required in the system.
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 approach simplifies the assembly process, reduces production costs, and meets legal requirements for handrail height and stability while minimizing material usage and assembly complexity.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive layer is provided between the legs of the first U-profile rail and the plate and between the first and second U-profile rails, by which the plate and the first and second U-profile rails are locked together in a position-oriented manner
Data Source
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AI summary
A balustrade (1) that is detachably attached to a substrate (2) or a building facade (3) consists of: - one or more surface-forming panels (4), which are made in particular of glass, plastic, wood or metal, - a first U-profile rail (5) whose two parallel legs (6, 7) and the web (8) arranged between them partially encircle the panel (4) and are firmly connected to it, - a receiving pocket (9) projecting outwards at each of the two free ends of the legs (6, 7) of the U-profile rail (5) and curved downwards in an arc, and - a support profile (11) with two side walls (12, 13) and with a base (14) running between them, wherein the side walls (12, 13) are fixed to the building facade (3) and/or the base (14) is fixed to the substrate (2).are and wherein a support web (17) with a round cross-section is provided or molded onto the upwardly projecting side walls (12, 13), which is inserted into the receiving pocket (9) in the assembled state and supports it downwards in the vertical direction (10), the assembly, in particular the vertical alignment of the plates (4) forming the balustrade (1), should be simple and quick and the manufacturing costs should be reduced compared to the previously known components for such balustrades (1). This is achieved by the fact that the support profile (11) is designed in cross-section as a U-shaped profile rail, that the respective legs (6, 7 or 12, 13) and the web (8) or bottom (14) of the two U-profile rails (5, 11) run parallel to each other in the assembled state, that between the legs (6, 7) of the first U-profile rail (5) and the plate (4) and between the first and second U-profile rail (5 or 12, 13)11) each has an adhesive layer (21 or 22) by which the plate (4), the first and second U-profile rail (5, 11) are locked together in a position-oriented manner.