Dowel Setting Tool Helical Engagement for Insulation Fastening

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing combination of a dowel and setting tool for fastening insulating materials faces challenges in reliably transitioning from the initial to the second step of the setting process, particularly due to the unclear engagement of the external hexagon with the holding plate, which is problematic across different insulating materials.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves a dowel with a rotatable retaining plate and a setting tool designed for positive engagement with both the screw and retaining plate, utilizing a helical relative movement for continuous rotation, and featuring elongated pins on the setting tool that engage with grooves on the holding plate for stable and reliable alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an external hexagon on the setting tool is used to engage with the holding plate, then the retaining plate can be turned in the second step, but the engagement is unclear and unreliable across different insulating materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengagement reliabilityVSAvoidsetting process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A helical guiding structure acts as an intermediary between the setting tool and the holding plate, providing a reliable engagement path. The helix guides the transition from screw-only turning to combined screw and retaining plate turning, ensuring the external hexagon properly engages with the holding plate without requiring complex manual intervention or adjustment for different insulating materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If manual intervention is required to press the retaining plate into the insulating material before screwing, then engagement may be achieved, but the process is expensive and unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengagement reliabilityVSAvoidsetting time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The helical guiding structure is designed to automatically perform the preliminary action of engaging the external hexagon with the holding plate during the screwing process itself. As the screw is turned, the helix progressively guides the retaining plate into engagement, eliminating the need for separate manual pressing actions before screwing, thereby reducing both time and process complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the setting tool continues to rotate without additional intervention, then the process is simplified, but torque feedback must be managed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidtorque
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The helical guiding structure provides mechanical feedback through controlled resistance during rotation. As the setting tool rotates, the helix gradually engages the holding plate, creating a progressive torque feedback that naturally signals the transition between steps. This allows the tool to continue rotating without additional intervention while providing the user with tactile feedback about the engagement progress and compression force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2905391B1Combination of a dowel and setting tool, respectively method for fixing insulating materials
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 FISCHERWERKE ARTUR FISCHER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2905391B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2905391B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP2905391B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

The invention relates to the combination of a dowel (1) with a setting tool (27) and a setting method for fastening insulating materials (25). The dowel (1) has a screw (13), a dowel sleeve (2), and a retaining plate (8) rotatable relative to the dowel sleeve (2). For setting, the setting tool (27) is brought into positive engagement with the screw (13) and the retaining plate (8), whereby in a first step only the screw (13) is rotated, and then in a second step the screw (13) and retaining plate (8) are rotated together. To achieve reliable, simple, and fast setting, the invention proposes that, during the transition from the first to the second step, the setting tool (27) and the retaining plate (8) are brought into engagement with each other by means of a helical relative movement.