Fixed Guard Assembly With Retained Plates and Screws

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fixed guards face complexity and inconvenience in pre-assembly, with a risk of losing components during assembly or maintenance, as the net wires can detach from the fixing plates, and the use of washers does not ensure the bolt's security.

Innovation Solution

The fixed guard employs synthetic resin plates with a polygonal groove matching the net's isosceles trapezoidal profile, coupled by interference, and a screw with a smaller stem and larger threaded end, which is forcibly insertable into a slotted hole, preventing loss during pre-assembly and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If metal plates with hooks and washers are used to fix the net to uprights, then the fixing mechanism is established, but the components can be lost during assembly or maintenance operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent retentionVSAvoidassembly convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The plate and screw are merged into a single integrated component. The screw is directly incorporated into the plate structure, eliminating the separate washer and screw components that could be lost during assembly or maintenance. This integration ensures that when the plate is removed from the upright, the screw remains attached to the plate rather than being lost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The screw is nested within the plate structure. The plate contains recesses that receive and retain the screw, creating a nested configuration where the smaller screw component is housed within the larger plate component. This nesting arrangement prevents the screw from being lost during handling, assembly, or maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the plate structure is simplified for easier assembly, then assembly convenience is improved, but the risk of component loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly convenienceVSAvoidcomponent retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The plate and screw are merged into a single integrated component. The screw is directly incorporated in the plate structure, eliminating the separate washer and screw components that could be lost during assembly or maintenance. This integration ensures that when the plate is removed from the upright, the screw remains attached to the plate rather than being lost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The screw is nested within the plate structure. The plate contains recesses that receive and retain the screw, creating a nested configuration where the smaller screw component is housed within the larger plate component. This nesting arrangement prevents the screw from being lost during handling, assembly, or maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Strength

If traditional metal plates and separate screws are used, then structural strength is achieved, but the pre-assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing strengthVSAvoidassembly speed

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The plate and screw are merged into a single integrated component. The screw is directly incorporated in the plate structure, eliminating the separate washer and screw components that could be lost during assembly or maintenance. This integration ensures that when the plate is removed from the upright, the screw remains attached to the plate rather than being lost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The screw is pre-positioned and integrated into the plate during manufacturing, rather than being attached separately during assembly. This preliminary action of incorporating the screw into the plate structure before installation eliminates the need for separate screw-attachment steps during field assembly, reducing complexity and assembly time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This design allows secure pre-assembly and transportation of panels without component loss, facilitating assembly and maintenance by ensuring the plates and screws remain attached, enhancing safety and reducing delays.

Implementation Method 1

the relative compliance of the synthetic resin of which the plate is made

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompliance: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

said groove and said recesses being operationally coupled by interference to a portion of wire of said net

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInterference coupling: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3708742B1Fixed guard with improved assembly means

Publication Date: 2021.06.02 TRENTAQUATTROTRENTOTTO

Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6

AI summary

Fixed guard comprising one or more panels consisting of a rigid net (10) supported by uprights (12), in which the rigid net is formed by ribs (14) with a polygonal profile, in which the panels are fixed by removable plates (15) to the uprights (12) in correspondence of the ribs (14). Each plate (15) is made of synthetic resin and has a polygonal groove (16) that corresponds to the polygonal profile of the ribs (14) of the net and a pair of recesses (22), such that the groove (16) and the recesses (22) are adapted to be coupled by interference to a portion of wire (46) of the net (10) to prevent loss.