Hinged Support Plate for Curtain Wall Fastening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening devices for glass curtain walls are inefficient in assembly, cause stress concentration leading to potential damage, and compromise security due to the need for drilling holes, which reduces glass strength and increases the risk of breakage.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device comprising a first and second clamping plate, a support plate, and a hinged second support plate that allows for three-dimensional adjustment and full surface contact, reducing stress concentration and enhancing stability and security by accommodating movement caused by wind, snow, temperature changes, or earthquakes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If holes are defined on the glass curtain wall units for assembly, then the curtain wall units can be connected and assembled, but the glass strength is reduced and security problems arise due to stress concentration at the holes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly capabilityVSAvoidglass strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The support function is segmented between the first support plate (providing primary support) and the second support plate (providing additional support and adjustment), allowing the system to achieve both assembly capability and stress distribution without holes in the glass

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening device acts as an intermediary component between the curtain wall units and the supporting structure, transferring loads through the clamping plates and support plates rather than through holes in the glass, thereby maintaining glass integrity while enabling assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If a fixed support plate is used between clamping plates, then the structure is simple, but stress concentration occurs when the curtain wall moves or rotates due to wind load or shock

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidstress distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The second support plate is designed to be movable relative to the first support plate, allowing the support structure to dynamically adapt to movements and rotations of the curtain wall under wind load or shock, thereby preventing stress concentration and improving reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The relative position and orientation of the second support plate can change in response to external forces, allowing the support system to adjust its geometric parameters to maintain optimal stress distribution under varying load conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the contact surface between glass curtain wall and support plate becomes a line due to movement, then the fastening device accommodates movement, but stress concentration causes the glass to crack or be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement accommodationVSAvoidstress concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hinged connection between the first and second support plates introduces an additional degree of freedom, allowing the support system to accommodate movement in multiple dimensions while maintaining a stable contact surface that distributes stress across an area rather than concentrating it at a line or point

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution provides increased stability, security, and reliability by allowing for adjustable three-dimensional positioning of curtain wall units, preventing stress concentration and enhancing shock resistance, while maintaining glass integrity.

Implementation Method 1

a second support plate hinged to the first support plate and configured to support the curtain wall units

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHinge mechanism: Hinge

Data Source

PatentEP2292858B1Fastening device for curtain wall units
Publication Date: 2015.05.06 GUANGDONG KIN LONG HARDWARE PROD CO LTD
  • EP2292858B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2292858B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP2292858B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

A fastening device for curtain wall units includes a first clamping plate, a second clamping plate fixed to the first clamping plate and spaced apart from the first clamping plate, a first support plate positioned between the first clamping plate and the second clamping plate, and a second support plate hinged to the first support plate and configured to support the curtain wall units.