Horizontal Leveler for Architectural Wall Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Architectural walls face challenges in securing and leveling within indoor environments with raised floors and suspended ceilings, as these structures often lack sufficient structural support for anchoring, and existing methods for alignment and leveling are difficult and costly, especially when dealing with uneven surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a horizontal leveler system that includes an upper frame, a lower frame, and an intermediate displacement mechanism, allowing for both crude and fine adjustments to achieve level positioning and secure attachment to permanent structures, with features like threaded studs, pistons, and springs enabling vertical and lateral adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If architectural walls are anchored to raised floors and suspended ceilings, then structural support is provided, but sufficient anchoring support is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The wall system is divided into modular sections with separate anchoring mechanisms. The channel members are segmented to allow independent adjustment and attachment at different locations, enabling secure anchoring to raised floors and suspended ceilings without requiring continuous structural support along the entire wall length.
Solution Approach 2:
Channel members serve as intermediary elements between the architectural wall and the raised floor/suspended ceiling structures. These channels provide a reliable anchoring interface that mediates the connection, allowing the wall to be securely attached even when the floor/ceiling structures themselves provide limited direct support.
2Reliability
If walls are extended below raised floors or above suspended ceilings to reach adequate anchor points, then anchoring is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The channel members are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as structural anchoring elements and as adjustment mechanisms. The same channel component provides both secure attachment to raised floors/suspended ceilings and the capability for horizontal leveling adjustment, eliminating the need for separate complex installation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall system incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities through the channel members, which allow for horizontal movement and positioning adjustments. This dynamic feature enables the wall to adapt to variations in floor/ceiling heights and positions without requiring precise pre-installation alignment or extended structural elements.
3Reliability
If channels are cut out of or attached to floors and ceilings, then wall anchoring is achieved, but perfect alignment and leveling become difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The channel members incorporate dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow the wall to be leveled horizontally after installation. The channels can move and adjust their position relative to the floor/ceiling, enabling perfect alignment to be achieved post-installation rather than requiring precise pre-cutting and pre-positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for changes in positional parameters of the wall and channel members after installation. The horizontal levelers enable adjustment of the wall's position and orientation by changing the parameters of the channel attachment, allowing alignment correction without requiring precise initial cutting or positioning.
4Stability of the object's composition
If traditional wall installation methods are used with fixed anchoring, then structural stability is achieved, but adjustment and repair difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wall system is segmented into modular components with independent adjustment capabilities. This segmentation allows individual sections to be adjusted or replaced without affecting the entire wall structure, maintaining overall stability while enabling easy local repairs and modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel members and horizontal levelers provide dynamic adjustment capabilities that allow the wall to be repositioned and re-leveled after installation. This dynamic feature enables easy adjustments and repairs while maintaining structural stability, as the same mechanisms used for installation can be used for subsequent modifications.
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
Enables secure, level installation of architectural walls with reduced movement, facilitating easier adjustments and repairs by allowing selective horizontal adjustment relative to imperfect permanent structures, thus addressing the challenges of uneven surfaces and limited structural support.
Implementation Method 1
The intermediate displacement mechanism may include one or more threaded studs, a piston, a spring, a bushing, or combinations thereof
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations of the present invention relate to apparatuses, systems, and methods for constructing and installing architectural walls that are secured to a floor and/or a ceiling and include one or more leveling mechanisms. The leveling mechanisms may allow the architectural wall to be selectively adjusted vertically relative to the floor and/or ceiling so that a horizontal positioning of the wall may be achieved. The leveling mechanisms may also allow the architectural wall to fit securely to a floor and/or ceiling.