Cross Runner Connector Geometry for Secure Locking and Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cross runner connectors for suspended ceiling systems face challenges in providing reliable locking while allowing easy disconnection, ensuring correct positioning, and maintaining cost-effectiveness, often resulting in high manufacturing costs and dimensional errors due to interlocking mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A cross runner connector design featuring a guiding lip and a locking lip separated by a slit, with a guide edge portion and a distal guide tip offset for lateral displacement during insertion, allowing for reliable locking and easy disconnection by twisting, and minimizing material usage by eliminating the need for additional interlocking components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cross runner connector is designed to provide reliable locking of the cross runner to the main runner, then the locking reliability is improved, but the disconnection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design incorporates resilient lips that can dynamically change their engagement state. The locking lip resiliently engages with the locking protrusion to provide secure locking, while the guiding lip with offset distal guide tip allows dynamic lateral displacement during insertion. This dynamic behavior enables the connector to transition between locked and disconnected states easily.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is divided into functionally separate lips: a locking lip for securing the connection and a guiding lip for positioning and insertion. These segmented lips work independently - the locking lip provides reliable locking while the guiding lip with its offset tip facilitates easy insertion and disconnection by allowing lateral movement.
2Manufacturing precision
If a cross runner connector is designed to ensure correct positioning of the cross runner in relation to the main runner, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distal guide tip of the guiding lip is offset in the lateral direction before insertion occurs. This preliminary offset positioning guides the connector laterally during insertion, ensuring correct alignment and positioning of the cross runner relative to the main runner from the outset, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset distal guide tip automatically guides the connector into correct positioning during the insertion process itself. The geometry of the guiding lip and its offset tip self-aligns the connector with the opening in the main runner, providing positioning accuracy without requiring additional expensive positioning components or complex manufacturing processes.
3Reliability
If traditional interlocking mechanisms are used for connecting cross runners, then connection reliability is improved, but dimensional errors occur due to interlocking
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the problematic interlocking mechanism from the connection design. Instead of using traditional interlocking profiles that accumulate dimensional errors, the design uses a simplified system where the locking lip resiliently engages a locking protrusion, and the guiding lip with offset tip provides positioning. This eliminates the chain of interlocking joints that cause dimensional inaccuracies.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection mechanism changes from rigid interlocking to resilient engagement. The locking lip's resilient nature allows for parameter flexibility in the engagement, accommodating minor variations without transmitting dimensional errors. The offset distal guide tip introduces a lateral displacement parameter that compensates for alignment variations, preventing error accumulation.
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 design ensures reliable locking and easy disconnection of cross runners from main runners, reduces manufacturing costs, and prevents dimensional errors by allowing independent connection of cross runners from opposing sides, providing a cost-effective and efficient solution.
Implementation Method 1
the guiding lip having a guide edge portion provided with a guide lip notch and a distal guide tip being offset in a first lateral direction such that the cross runner connector is laterally displaceable in the first lateral direction in response to insertion of the cross runner connector into the opening of the main runner with the guide edge portion positioned in the opening notch of the opening
Implementation Method 2
the locking lip having a locking protrusion protruding in the first lateral direction
Data Source
AI summary
A cross runner connector for a suspended ceiling system (1) comprising a main runner (10) being provided with an opening (11) for reception of the cross runner connector and having a circumference defining an opening notch (12); and a cross runner (30), the cross runner connector comprising a guiding lip (41) and a locking lip (42) separated by a slit (43) and extending in the longitudinal direction (P2) of the cross runner connector, the guiding lip (41) having a guide edge portion (44) provided with a guide lip notch (45) and a distal guide tip (46) being offset in a first lateral direction (P3) such that the cross runner connector is laterally displaceable in the first lateral direction (P3) in response to insertion of the cross runner connector into the opening (11) of the main runner (10) with the guide edge portion (44) positioned in the opening notch (12) of the opening (11), and the locking lip (42) having a locking protrusion (48) protruding in the first lateral direction (P3). The invention further relates to a cross runner connector arrangement comprising the cross runner connector and a main runner.