Bracket Securing Element for C-Rail Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing C-rail assembly systems are prone to bending open under high loads, leading to the potential detachment of add-on parts, as they lack sufficient stability to withstand significant loads.

Innovation Solution

A bracket-shaped securing element is positioned between the add-on part and the C-rail's gripping strips, overlapping the C-rail's lateral legs to prevent bending, and can be integrated with screw connections like cap screws or hammer head screws, enhancing the C-rail's stability by locally clamping and supporting its legs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a standard screw connection is used to fasten add-on parts to the C-rail, then the assembly system is simple and easy to manufacture, but the C-rail bends open under high loads causing add-on parts to detach

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidassembly system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The securing element is divided into two functional legs (first leg and second leg) that independently engage with the C-rail's gripping strips. This segmentation allows each leg to provide localized reinforcement, collectively preventing the C-rail from bending open under load while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The securing element extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the C-rail, creating a dimensional reinforcement that restricts the bending movement of the C-rail legs. This transverse extension adds a new spatial dimension to the load-bearing capability, preventing the C-rail from deforming open under high loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the C-rail is reinforced to prevent bending under high loads, then the stability and reliability improve, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The securing element acts as an intermediary component between the add-on part and the C-rail. It transfers and distributes the loads from the add-on part to the C-rail in a manner that prevents bending, thereby improving reliability without requiring modifications to the C-rail itself or complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The securing element is positioned within the space defined by the C-rail's gripping strips, with its legs extending into the interior space of the C-rail. This nested arrangement allows the securing element to provide reinforcement without adding significant external complexity or requiring complex manufacturing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the securing element extends far beyond the attachment point, then the C-rail stability improves along its length, but the weight and material usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveC-rail stabilityVSAvoidsecuring element weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The securing element provides localized reinforcement at critical points along the C-rail where bending is most likely to occur. Rather than uniformly strengthening the entire C-rail, the securing element concentrates its structural support where needed, minimizing unnecessary material usage and weight while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The securing element extends slightly beyond the immediate attachment point to provide adequate reinforcement, but not excessively so. This partial extension is sufficient to prevent C-rail bending under load while avoiding the unnecessary weight and material consumption that would result from excessive extension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3044534B1Assembly system for securing an attachment part to a c-rail
Publication Date: 2019.04.17 RHEINMETALL MAN MILITARY VEHICLES GMBH
  • EP3044534B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to an assembly system (100; 100') for securing an attachment part (8) to a C-rail (1), which has two laterally arranged limbs (2, 3) and two surrounding strips (4, 5) which face the attachment part (8) and are arranged at a distance from each other, said attachment part (8) being pressable against the outer surfaces (28) of the two surrounding strips (4, 5) of the C-rail (1) by means of a screw connection (7; 7'). In order to prevent the C-rail (1) from bending under high loads, the invention proposes a bracket-shaped securing element (17) which is arranged between the attachment part (8) and the surrounding strips (4, 5) when the assembly system (100; 100') is used as intended such that the two limbs (18, 19) of the bracket-shaped securing element (17) at least partly surround the outside of the two laterally arranged limbs (2, 3) of the C-rail (1).