Beam Attachment Yoke with Undercut Teeth for Slip-Free Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for fastening components, such as support shoes and fork heads, face challenges in achieving reliable height adjustability and strength while preventing slipping and requiring pre-tensioning for locking positions.

Innovation Solution

A device with extruded parts featuring parallel, vertically spaced cheeks and oblong slots for a bolt, along with locking teeth on the cheeks and bearing pieces that engage via undercut flanks, forming a hook connection that secures without additional tension, allowing for height and inclination adjustment without slipping and eliminating the need for pre-tensioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If bearing pieces are clamped to the outside of cheeks by means of a hinge pin with serrations, then the device achieves height adjustability, but the hinge pin may slip unintentionally in the axle slots and requires pre-tensioning to secure locking positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustabilityVSAvoidpreventing slipping
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing piece is divided into a body portion and a separate locking tab that extends from the side. This segmentation allows the locking tab to engage with locking teeth on the cheek independently, providing positive locking without requiring pre-tensioning of the entire bearing piece assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A separate locking tab acts as an intermediary element between the bearing piece and the cheek. This tab engages with locking teeth to secure the bearing piece in place, eliminating the need for pre-tensioning and preventing unintentional slippage while maintaining height adjustability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If multiple components are assembled together with traditional fastening methods, then the assembly achieves structural integrity, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing piece integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides bearing support for the hinge pin, includes built-in locking tabs for securing to the cheek, and enables height adjustment through slot engagement. This merging eliminates the need for separate locking mechanisms and simplifies the assembly process while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking tabs on the bearing piece automatically engage with the locking teeth on the cheek when the bearing piece is positioned in the desired location. This self-locking mechanism eliminates the need for additional fastening operations or pre-tensioning steps, significantly speeding up assembly while ensuring reliable structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2408975B1Device for attaching beams and other components
Publication Date: 2014.10.15 SCHLETTER GMBH
  • EP2408975B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2408975B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2408975B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for attaching beams and other components, comprising a yoke (1) having two opposing flanges (2, 3) between which a component (4) can be attached by means of a bolt (5). The bolt is guided in two slits (6) such that the height thereof can be changed and is supported in two bearing components (8). The flanges (2, 3) and the bearing components (8) are engaged with each other by means of indexing tooth systems in one of a plurality of index positions. A substantial improvement is that the bearing components (8) are engaged by means of the indexing tooth system thereof in the indexing tooth system of the flanges (2, 3). To this end, the upper flanks of the indexing teeth of the indexing tooth systems of the flanges (2, 3) and the lower flanks of the indexing teeth of the indexing tooth systems of the bearing components (8) have undercuts. The bearing components (8) thereby remain engaged with the flanges (2, 3) in each index position.