Cooling Shelf Side-Wall Mounting for Fast Secure Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerated shelves face challenges in efficiently and easily attaching side walls, requiring significant assembly effort and lacking a straightforward method for secure attachment.

Innovation Solution

The side walls are equipped with lower and upper holding elements that connect to corresponding counter-elements on the floor and roof groups, respectively, using securing elements like retaining screws, and are designed with angled brackets and Z-shaped counter-elements for stable and easy assembly, allowing for detachable fixation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If side walls are screwed to the side edges of the termination, then secure attachment is achieved, but assembly effort is significantly increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidassembly effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is divided into separate holding elements and counter-holding elements that can be independently positioned and connected, eliminating the need for complex screwing operations while maintaining secure attachment through modular connection points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Holding elements and counter-holding elements serve as intermediary components that facilitate the connection between side walls and the termination structure, providing a simplified interface that reduces assembly complexity while ensuring reliable attachment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If traditional attachment methods are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but assembly time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The holding elements and counter-holding elements are pre-positioned on the termination structure and side walls respectively, allowing for rapid connection without time-consuming alignment or preparation steps during assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment system allows for dynamic assembly and disassembly through the detachable connection between holding elements and counter-holding elements, enabling quick installation and removal while maintaining structural integrity during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3104747B1Cooling shelf
Publication Date: 2018.04.18 AHT COOLING SYSTEMS GMBH
  • EP3104747B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3104747B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3104747B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cooling shelf comprising a base group (2), a rear wall group (4), a top group (5) and side walls (3), by means of which a cooling space is delimited from below, above, the rear and the sides. In order to achieve an advantageous assembly of the side walls: the side walls (3) are provided with lower holding elements (31) on the lower portion thereof, and provided with upper holding elements (30) on the upper portion thereof; the lower lateral edges of the base group (2) that are facing the side walls (3) are provided with counter holding elements (200) adapted to the lower holding elements (31), and the upper lateral edges of the top group (5) that are facing the side walls (3) are provided with upper counter holding elements (500); and the side walls (3) are detachably fixed to the side regions of the cooling shelf (1) by connecting the lower holding elements (31) to the lower counter holding elements (200), and connecting the upper holding elements (30) to the upper counter holding elements (500).