Duct Flange Fastening With Pre-Formed Entry Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for attaching flanges to duct members are inefficient due to the need for significant pressure and torque to pass fasteners through multiple layers of sheet metal, leading to potential injury, deformation of components, and a lack of a tight fit, which complicates the assembly process and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of pre-fabricated fastener entry areas, such as through holes or indentations, on both sides of the flange and duct member, allowing for easier and more secure fastening with reduced force and torque requirements, preventing deformation, and ensuring a tight fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If fasteners are driven through multiple layers of sheet metal to secure flanges to duct members, then the connection strength is improved, but the assembly process becomes more difficult and time-consuming due to the need for significant pressure and torque
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming recesses in the flange portions before assembly. These recesses are created during manufacturing, so that during assembly, fasteners can be inserted into these pre-prepared recesses without requiring the breaking or piercing of solid sheet metal. This preliminary preparation of the fastener receiving areas significantly reduces assembly difficulty while maintaining connection strength.
2Reliability
If high pressure and torque are applied to drive fasteners through sheet metal layers, then secure fastening is achieved, but component deformation and potential injury occur
Solution Approach 1:
The recesses are pre-formed in the flange portions during manufacturing, creating ready-made cavities that receive fasteners without requiring forceful penetration. This eliminates the high pressure and torque application that causes deformation, while still achieving secure fastening as the fasteners seat properly in the pre-prepared recesses.
3Ease of operation
If additional components are used to facilitate flange interconnection, then assembly ease is improved, but implementation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fastener receiving function directly into the flange portions by forming recesses as integral features of the flange structure itself. This eliminates the need for separate fastener receiving components or additional parts, achieving ease of assembly without increasing device complexity or component quantity.
Data Source
AI summary
A flange to be assembled to a duct member includes a plurality of pre-fabricated apertures or areas of weakened wall strength for receiving fasteners to assemble the flange to the end of a duct member. The apertures may be spaced apart such that the fasteners can be inserted at regular intervals along the length of the flange and the length of the end of the duct member.