Busway Vertical Spring Hanger with Rigid Pre-Setting Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current busway spring hanger designs fail to evenly distribute the load during installation, leading to potential distortion of the riser over time due to overloading or underloading of hangers, and lack of easy maintenance options without original installation documents.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of rigid elements in the spring hangers allows for pre-set and equal spring compression settings during assembly, enabling factory calibration and easy monitoring of load distribution, with adjustable features for maintaining optimal performance over time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If spring hangers are used to support the busway riser, then the hangers can compensate for expansion and contraction, but the load cannot be evenly distributed during installation causing some hangers to be overloaded and others underloaded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompensation for expansion and contractionVSAvoidequal distribution of load

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Rigid blocking members are installed in the spring hangers before the busway riser is assembled. These blocking members pre-set the spring compression to a predetermined amount, ensuring equal load distribution. The blocking members are removed after assembly is complete, allowing the springs to maintain their pre-set compression while supporting the busway riser.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rigid blocking members act as intermediary elements during installation. They temporarily constrain the spring compression to a predetermined amount, mediating between the installer and the spring hanger system to ensure uniform load distribution. After installation, the blocking members are removed and the springs continue to function as intermediaries for compensating thermal expansion and contraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the springs are always in the loaded state during construction, then they can support the busway, but maintaining equal distribution of load becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport capabilityVSAvoidmaintaining equal load distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The predetermined spring compression is established in advance by installing rigid blocking members before the busway riser assembly. This preliminary action ensures that when the springs are loaded during construction, they start from an equal compression state, making it easy to maintain equal load distribution throughout the assembly process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The spring hangers are designed to be self-adjusting within a range. The springs can automatically compensate for minor variations in installation and thermal changes while maintaining equal load distribution, reducing the need for manual adjustment during construction and maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If rigid elements are added to set and hold spring compression, then factory calibration is enabled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefactory calibration of spring settingsVSAvoidstructure of spring hanger

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring hanger system is segmented into distinct functional components: the spring mechanism for compensation, the rigid blocking members for pre-setting compression, and the attachment brackets. This segmentation allows the blocking members to be easily installed and removed while maintaining the simplicity of the core spring hanger design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rigid blocking members are extracted as separate, removable components from the spring hanger assembly. They are not permanently integrated but are temporarily inserted during installation to set the spring compression, then removed. This extraction approach adds minimal complexity while enabling precise factory calibration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Ensures uniform load distribution along the busway riser, preventing distortion and facilitating maintenance without requiring original installation documents, enhancing safety and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

When properly installed and maintained, spring hangers compensate for expansion and contraction of the busway, as well as shrinkage of the building.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

spring hangers compensate for expansion and contraction of the busway

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10396537B2Busway vertical spring hanger

Publication Date: 2019.08.27 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA INC

AI summary

The present invention provides for a calculation and pre-setting of even spring compression among the spring hangers of a vertical busway riser, by use of rigid elements in the hanger with the ability to retain the spring compression during construction of the busway, and the ability to release and load the spring hangers only after construction of the riser is completed.