Gable-Shaped Levelling Wedge for Buckling-Free Cladding Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wedges used in cladding plate installations often buckle due to bending moments, leading to excessive plate separation, wear out quickly, and fail to maintain proper positioning, especially when used repeatedly.
Innovation Solution
A wedge with a seating plane and a work plane having different inclinations forming a gable shape, featuring protrusions and a beveled surface, which self-centers and distributes forces evenly to prevent buckling and reduce wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a traditional wedge with a single inclined work face is used, then the levelling operation can be performed, but the work face wears away readily due to concentrated pressure contact
Solution Approach 1:
The work face of the wedge is segmented into two differently inclined slopes instead of a single flat surface. This segmentation distributes the contact pressure across two distinct areas, preventing concentrated wear at a single point and extending the service life of the wedge while maintaining manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the work face are given different inclinations to optimize their local functions. One slope contacts one arm of the levelling piece while the other slope contacts the other arm, creating localized contact zones that reduce overall wear on the wedge surface
2Force
If force is applied on a traditional wedge, then the cladding plates are separated, but a bending moment is generated causing the inverted U-shaped element to buckle
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge employs asymmetric slopes with different inclinations rather than symmetric equal angles. This asymmetry is designed to counterbalance the bending moments generated during force application, preventing the inverted U-shaped element from buckling while maintaining the necessary separation force
Solution Approach 2:
The differently inclined slopes act as counterbalancing elements that offset the bending moment caused by the applied force. The geometric asymmetry creates opposing moment arms that neutralize the destabilizing effect, maintaining vertical alignment stability
3Force
If the inverted U-shaped element is not perpendicular with respect to the base, then force is applied, but a larger separation between cladding plates is generated than designed
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge's asymmetric geometry is designed to self-align with the levelling piece during insertion. The differently inclined slopes naturally guide the wedge into the correct position, ensuring the inverted U-shaped element remains perpendicular to the base and maintaining precise control over the joint gap without requiring additional alignment mechanisms
4Productivity
If a wedge is used repeatedly in levelling operations, then productivity increases, but the work face wears away significantly reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the work face into two slopes, the wedge distributes wear across multiple surfaces rather than concentrating it on a single face. This allows the wedge to be used repeatedly for levelling operations while maintaining consistent performance and reliability over an extended service life
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a wedge for a levelling piece, formed by a seating plane and an inclined work plane provided with two slopes having different inclinations, defining a gable shape, wherein each slope has a plurality of protrusions, generating two toothed rows, such that each pair of adjacent protrusions is connected to form a continuous ridge. The gable shape of the wedge allows the wedge to self-centre in an opening defined in the levelling piece and distributes the forces applied by the wedge on the levelling piece in different planes, preventing the inverted U-shaped element from bending with respect to the base, since the forces are compensated.