Flat Panel Trough Alignment Using Tray-Guided Pivot Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for supporting and aligning flat panels, such as balustrades and partitions, often result in visible misalignment and difficulty in adjusting the panel's angle due to the need for lateral movement at the base, which is hard to access.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a longitudinal trough with a tray and panel socket that allows for lateral movement of the panel within the trough, combined with a clamp and releasable wedge to secure the panel, enabling precise adjustment of the panel's angle without requiring difficult lateral base movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the panel is pivoted about its base for alignment adjustment, then the panel can be aligned vertically, but the panel becomes visibly closer to one side of the trough than the other at the upper opening
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the pivot axis from vertical (at the base) to horizontal (at the upper opening). By introducing a new dimension for the pivot axis location, the system achieves both precise vertical alignment and visual symmetry. The panel pivots about a horizontal axis at the upper opening rather than a vertical axis at the base, allowing the panel to remain centered visually while enabling precise angular adjustment.
2Ease of operation
If the panel is pivoted about the base for alignment adjustment, then the panel angle can be adjusted, but lateral movement at the base is difficult to access
Solution Approach 1:
The invention relocates the pivot axis from the base (vertical position) to the upper opening (horizontal position). This dimensional change in axis location moves the adjustment mechanism from an inaccessible lower position to an accessible upper position, while maintaining the capability for angular adjustment. The pivot axis is repositioned in three-dimensional space to solve the accessibility problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a pivot axis as an intermediary element that mediates between the panel and the trough. This pivot axis, positioned at the upper opening, serves as the mediator for alignment adjustment, eliminating the need for direct lateral movement at the base. The pivot axis acts as the intermediary mechanism that enables angle adjustment through a accessible location.
3Manufacturing precision
If the trough is placed on an approximately horizontal surface for panel alignment, then the panel can be aligned, but the surface may be subject to subsidence
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates a leveling mechanism that performs preliminary action to establish a truly horizontal reference plane before panel installation. The leveling mechanism proactively compensates for surface subsidence by pre-establishing a stable horizontal baseline, ensuring that subsequent panel alignment remains precise even if the underlying surface changes over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention incorporates a leveling mechanism that provides feedback about the horizontal orientation and automatically adjusts accordingly. This feedback system continuously monitors the horizontal status and makes real-time adjustments to maintain precise panel alignment, compensating for surface subsidence or settlement over time.
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 system ensures vertical alignment and secure attachment of flat panels, reducing torque on support mechanisms and allowing easy adjustment of the panel's inclination, enhancing aesthetic appeal and structural stability.
Implementation Method 1
a releasable wedge configured to brace the panel within the trough adjacent to the base of the trough, the wedge configured to bridge a gap between the base of the flat panel and the wall of the tray
Data Source
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AI summary
It is desirable to pivot a flat panel about an axis at or near the opening of a trough, so that the panel is not visibly closer to one side of the trough than the other. The present invention provides a tray 2,5 disposed within a trough 3, a panel socket 4,7 configured to engage with the tray such that movement of the tray along the trough in the longitudinal direction results in lateral movement of the panel socket within the trough, and a releasable wedge 95 configured to brace the panel 1 within the trough adjacent to the base 31 of the trough, the wedge configured to bridge a gap between the base of the flat panel and a wall 51 of the tray. In this way, the wedge urges the wall of the tray against the side wall of the trough, thereby resisting movement of the tray within the trough.