Clamping Element for Drain Channel Tile Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing gutter body assembly process faces issues with tile profile segments slipping during assembly, leading to unsightly or defective installations due to lack of proper attachment, resulting in alignment and fixing challenges.
Innovation Solution
A clamping element with a first, second, and third clamping arrangement, along with contact devices, is designed for detachable connection with tile profile segments, enabling precise positioning and fixing to form C-shaped or rectangular frames, ensuring a clean finish between tiles and the channel body arrangement. The clamping element is adaptable to different tile profile segment thicknesses and can be rotated for various configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If tile profile segments are placed around the gutter without clamping, then the assembly process is simple, but the tile profile segments slip and become misaligned during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping element is inserted between the gutter and tile profile segments before the adhesive setting process to preliminarily secure the segments in position. This preliminary clamping action prevents slipping during assembly, and the element is later removed after the adhesive has set, combining simple assembly with precise alignment.
2Strength
If clamping arrangements are provided on all four sides of the clamping element, then the fixing strength is maximized, but the clamping element cannot be used for both C-shaped and rectangular frame configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping element is designed with asymmetric clamping arrangement distribution - three clamping arrangements on three sides and one side without clamping arrangement. This asymmetric design allows the element to adapt to both C-shaped frames (using three sides) and rectangular frames (using four sides by rotating), while maintaining sufficient fixing strength through the strategic placement of clamping arrangements.
3Force
If the clamping element is designed with fixed clamping arms for specific tile thicknesses, then the clamping force is optimized for those thicknesses, but the element cannot accommodate tile profile segments with different thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping arms are designed with adjustable positions along the clamping element body, allowing the spacing between clamping arms to be dynamically adjusted. This enables the clamping element to accommodate tile profile segments with different thicknesses while maintaining optimized clamping force for each specific thickness by positioning the arms at appropriate intervals.
Data Source
AI summary
The clamping elements (5a,5b) have three clamping arrangements (51,52,53) which are equipped for detachable connection with tile profile segments (41-43) and four attachment units (54-57) for attaching at a drain channel (1). The attachment units have an attachment surface which extends perpendicularly from a base plate. An independent claim is included for a channel body arrangement with a drain channel having two side walls.