Curtain Wall Mounting Apparatus for Thin Material Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing curtain wall installation methods face challenges with thin materials, such as ceramic or stone, due to difficulties in achieving a proper fit and efficient installation, often requiring additional components like shims and resulting in an inefficient process.
Innovation Solution
A curtain wall system with a mounting apparatus featuring a mounting plate and arm with projections and channels, allowing for adjustable positioning and preassembly of components, which eliminates the need for shims by providing a built-in shimming mechanism and enabling quick, efficient installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional curtain wall installation methods are used with thin materials, then the installation process becomes inefficient and time-consuming, but achieving a proper fit becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting apparatus is pre-assembled with the curtain wall member before installation, with the arm and positioning mechanism already in place. This preliminary assembly allows for quick installation without on-site adjustments, improving efficiency while maintaining precision through pre-configured positioning features
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting apparatus acts as an intermediary device between the support channel and the curtain wall member. The arm with projections and channels provides a mediating mechanism that facilitates precise positioning and secure attachment, solving both the efficiency and fit accuracy problems
2Manufacturing precision
If additional components like shims are used to achieve proper fit, then the fit accuracy improves, but the device complexity and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning mechanism is merged into the mounting apparatus itself rather than being a separate component. The arm with integrated projections and channels combines the functions of positioning, support, and attachment in a single device, eliminating the need for separate shims and reducing overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting apparatus serves multiple functions: it provides structural support through the arm, enables precise positioning through projections and channels, and secures the curtain wall member through the mounting plate. This multi-functionality replaces multiple separate components with a single universal device
Data Source
AI summary
In certain embodiments, a system includes a curtain wall member and a first curtain wall member mounting apparatus coupled to a first end of the curtain wall member. The first curtain wall member mounting apparatus includes a mounting plate and an arm having one or more projections. The first curtain wall member mounting apparatus engages with a first curtain wall member supporting channel having a vertically-disposed member and a horizontally-disposed supporting member having a receiving-and-retaining member extending from an end opposite the vertically-disposed member. The receiving-and-retaining member engages with a channel adjacent to one or more projections of the first curtain wall member mounting apparatus. The first curtain wall member mounting apparatus is adapted to be rotated into position such that a connection mechanism at a second end of the curtain wall member engages with a second curtain wall member supporting channel to retain the curtain wall member in position.