Deicer Guard Spring Fastening for Safer Stock Tank Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional deicing systems for plastic stock tanks are costly and difficult to assemble, with separate fasteners like screws and nuts being prone to loss and requiring complex clamping mechanisms to secure the heating element away from the tank walls, posing a risk of ignition.
Innovation Solution
A deicing system that uses a metal securing spring with evenly-spaced coils to compressively fasten the heating element to a wire-frame guard, eliminating the need for separate fasteners and simplifying the assembly process by threading around the heating element and cross-beam.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clamp assembly with separate fasteners (screws and nuts) is used to secure the guard to the heating element, then the guard is securely fastened, but the device complexity increases and the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult assembly and risk of losing small fasteners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (bracket, screws, nuts) into a single integrated spring mechanism. The spring serves both as the securing element and the fastening mechanism, eliminating the need for separate fasteners and simplifying the overall assembly structure while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical attachment, allows for easy assembly and disassembly, and ensures secure fastening without requiring additional fasteners. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by making one component do the work of several previous components.
2Reliability
If a bracket with separate fasteners is used to attach the guard, then the heating element is securely fastened, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to higher cost and difficulty in assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bracket and fasteners into a single spring component, reducing the number of parts that need to be manufactured, inventoried, and assembled. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces costs while maintaining the secure attachment function.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. This approach reduces manufacturing costs and simplifies maintenance compared to complex bracket-and-fastener assemblies.
3Reliability
If conventional clamp assemblies with multiple components are used, then the guard is securely fastened, but the loss of time increases due to difficult assembly and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
By combining all fastening functions into a single spring component, the patent eliminates the time-consuming process of assembling and disassembling multiple separate fasteners. The spring can be quickly attached and removed as a single unit, dramatically reducing maintenance time.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring design allows for easy self-service assembly and disassembly without requiring special tools or complex procedures. Users can quickly attach or remove the spring by hand, eliminating the time loss associated with conventional fastener assemblies.
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 securing spring provides a secure, cost-effective, and intuitive attachment method that prevents the heating element from abutting tank surfaces, reducing the risk of ignition and assembly complexity while maintaining effective ice prevention in water-retaining structures.
Implementation Method 1
a securing spring that securely fastens the heating element to the guard. The securing spring compressively winds around the cross-beam and the heating element
Data Source
AI summary
A deicing system includes a heating element configured to impart heat to water within a water-retaining structure, a guard configured to prevent the heating element from abutting surfaces of the water-retaining structure, and a securing spring that securely fastens the heating element to the guard.