Clean Room Wall Fastening Element with Sealing Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of clean room wall elements is complex, time-consuming, and costly, making it difficult to maintain airtight connections and adapt to changing conditions while complying with cleanliness standards.

Innovation Solution

A fastening system featuring a fastening element with a sealing coating and a latching mechanism that forms a form-fitting area with a holding profile, allowing for quick assembly and disassembly without tools, ensuring a hermetic seal and easy adaptation of clean room configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional fastening systems are used to connect clean room wall elements, then the connection can be achieved, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly speedVSAvoidfastening system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening system is divided into separate modular components: a fastening element with a head portion and a latching element, and a holding profile with a receiving portion. These segmented components can be independently manufactured, assembled, and disassembled, enabling quick assembly and adaptation while reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The latching element is designed to be received within the receiving portion of the holding profile, creating a nested structure. The latching element fits into the receiving portion and can be securely positioned, providing a compact and space-efficient connection that simplifies the overall fastening system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If conventional connection methods are used for clean room wall elements, then structural stability can be achieved, but assembly and disassembly require significant time and effort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening element and holding profile are pre-designed with complementary geometries that enable immediate form-fitting connection upon assembly. The head portion of the fastening element is shaped to match the receiving portion of the holding profile, allowing the components to self-align and connect quickly without requiring complex adjustment or additional fastening steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The latching element incorporates a movable latch arm that can transition between engaged and disengaged positions. This dynamic component allows for quick latching during assembly and equally quick release during disassembly, enabling the connection to be made and broken rapidly while maintaining structural stability when engaged.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If clean room wall elements are designed for adaptability, then modifications can be made easily, but maintaining airtight seals becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclean room configuration flexibilityVSAvoidsealing effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is merged directly into the fastening element by applying a sealing coating to the head portion. This integration ensures that the sealing action occurs simultaneously with the mechanical fastening action, maintaining the airtight seal regardless of configuration changes. The sealing coating is applied in the region where the head portion contacts the holding profile, combining structural and sealing functions in one component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing coating material properties are specifically selected to provide effective sealing under the contact pressure generated by the form-fitting connection. The coating's elastic and adhesive parameters are optimized to maintain sealing effectiveness while allowing for the dynamic engagement and disengagement of the fastening system, enabling adaptability without compromising seal integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If multiple components are used to ensure airtight sealing, then sealing reliability improves, but assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is merged directly into the fastening element by applying a sealing coating to the head portion. This integration eliminates the need for separate sealing components such as gaskets or seals, reducing the total number of parts while maintaining or improving sealing reliability. The sealing coating becomes an integral part of the fastening mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening element is created as a composite structure by applying a sealing coating material onto the head portion. This composite construction combines the mechanical strength of the fastening element base material with the sealing properties of the coating material, achieving both structural and sealing functions in a single integrated component rather than requiring multiple separate parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution significantly reduces assembly effort, ensures airtight connections, and allows for flexible modifications to clean room designs while maintaining compliance with cleanliness standards, reducing production costs and ensuring contamination protection.

Implementation Method 1

the sealing coating is elastically deformed in the assembled state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the fastening element generates a state of tension in a latched end position of the fastening element, which causes the sealing lining to be pinched and partially pushed out

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP2722462B1Fixing system for the attachment of a clean room wall element
Publication Date: 2018.03.07 SCHILLING ENG
  • EP2722462B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2722462B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2722462B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The fastening system has a retaining profile and a fastening element (14), which has a positive connection area in an assembled state together with the retaining profile. The fastening element has a sealing surface (14a). The fastening element has a head element (14.1) with a bearing surface (14.1a) and a detent element (14.2) with one latching arm (14.2a). The sealing surface is applied to the bearing surface of the head element in a respective edge region (14.1b).