Composite Dowel Locking Structure for Snag-Free Plate Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing attachment devices for cable trays and connecting profiles suffer from play and snagging issues, and potential user injuries, while existing composite dowels do not adequately address these problems without increasing manufacturing complexity or costs.
Innovation Solution
A composite dowel with a prismatic retention body and locking pin design that allows for strong attachment and sliding under significant forces, while minimizing snagging risks and user injuries, using polymer materials and internal retention mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sliding attachment device is used between connecting profile and cable tray, then ease of assembly is improved, but attachment robustness deteriorates due to play between parts
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device is segmented into two distinct components: a retention body that remains stationary in the slot hole, and a locking pin that provides the locking action. This segmentation allows the retention body to provide continuous positional guidance (reducing play) while the locking pin delivers robust mechanical interlocking, resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and attachment robustness.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention body is pre-installed in the slot hole before the locking pin is inserted. This preliminary action establishes a fixed reference position and reduces play between components, while the subsequent insertion of the locking pin provides the robust mechanical locking. The pre-positioning of the retention body enables easier assembly by guiding the locking pin insertion.
2Ease of operation
If the tip of the device projects from slot holes to enable removal, then ease of operation is improved, but harmful factors increase due to snagging on cables and user injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful projecting tip is extracted from the design. Instead of having a protruding element for removal, the locking pin itself serves as the removal mechanism through its T-shaped cross-section that can be engaged with a flat-blade screwdriver. This eliminates the snagging hazard while maintaining ease of removal through the accessible slot hole opening.
Solution Approach 2:
A flat-blade screwdriver is introduced as an intermediary tool to engage with the T-shaped cross-section of the locking pin for removal operations. This intermediary tool provides a safe interface between the user and the device, eliminating direct contact with potentially harmful projecting elements while enabling easy removal through the slot hole opening.
3Strength
If composite dowels with harpoon-shaped ends and fins are used, then attachment strength is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The retention body and locking pin are merged into a simple two-component system where the retention body provides structural support and positioning, and the locking pin provides both locking and removal functions. This merged design achieves attachment strength through the cooperative action of these two simple components without requiring complex harpoon-shaped ends or multiple fins, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining strength.
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
The composite dowel provides robust, snag-free attachment and reduced user injury risk, maintaining stability under stress without complicating installation and maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
the rod 13 of the locking pin 1B being pressure-introduced into the inner passage 10 between the tabs 9, thereby causing an elastic deformation of the tabs 9
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a composite dowel (1) for making an attachment between two plates. The dowel (1) comprises a retention dowel (1A) and a locking pin (1B) which is pressure-inserted into the retention dowel (1A). The retention dowel (1A) has four tabs with outer faces forming a prismatic surface with a square cross-section, and through notches which are arranged at the vertices of the prismatic surface and do not reach the ends of the tabs, such that these ends of the tabs are attached to one another. The locking pin (1B) has a rod and four fins which are introduced into the through retention notches. The fins extend in two orthogonal planes and such that edges of these fins are arranged at the vertices of a square.