Reinforced Marine Electronics Mount for Wave-Load Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic device mounts for marine environments lack sufficient structural integrity to withstand harsh conditions such as wave forces and maneuvering stresses, leading to potential failure and cracking.
Innovation Solution
A strengthened mounting apparatus featuring a base, platform, back and front arms with mounting plates, and a conformal support plate made from a single laser-cut sheet of aluminum, with a support plate made from stainless steel providing additional strength without bulkiness or excessive cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the material is changed from aluminum to stronger materials such as stainless steel or titanium, then the strength and durability of the mount is improved, but the cost and manufacturing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The mount uses a composite construction combining aluminum for the main body structure with stainless steel reinforcement plates at critical stress points. This allows the mount to achieve the strength of stainless steel where needed while maintaining the cost-effectiveness and ease of manufacturing of aluminum for the majority of the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire mount from expensive stainless steel or titanium, reinforcement plates are strategically placed only at high-stress areas such as the base mounting points and arm joints. This localized strengthening approach provides the necessary strength improvement while minimizing the increase in material cost and manufacturing complexity.
2Strength
If a thicker sheet of aluminum is used, then the strength of the mount is improved, but the cost increases and the mount becomes bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
The design uses thin aluminum sheets combined with stainless steel reinforcement plates to achieve the structural strength that would otherwise require much thicker aluminum. This composite approach maintains a compact, low-profile mount while providing the necessary strength to withstand marine environmental stresses.
Solution Approach 2:
Thicker material is applied only where structurally necessary through the stainless steel reinforcement plates at stress concentration points. The majority of the mount uses thin aluminum sheet material, keeping the overall volume small and the profile low while still achieving the required strength through localized reinforcement.
3Reliability
If the mount is designed with higher strength materials or thicker sections, then the structural integrity is improved, but the mount becomes more expensive and bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
The mount employs a composite design with aluminum sheets and stainless steel reinforcement plates that can be manufactured using standard fabrication processes. This approach achieves high structural integrity without requiring complex manufacturing techniques or exotic materials, keeping the device relatively simple while ensuring reliability in harsh marine conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A mount for electronic devices has a base, a platform, a back arm with an upper mounting plate, a front arm with a lower mounting plate, and a conformal support plate that is attached to the platform and at least the back arm. The highest mounting plate is positioned in a plane that is above the platform and is parallel to the plane of the platform. The lower mounting plate may be on the same plane as the platform or it can be in a plane that is between the highest mounting plate and the platform. The mounting plates have different hole patterns that allow the mounting of several different types of gimbal brackets for the electronic devices which allow the electronic devices to be tilted as needed. Wires for the electronic devices can pass through an aperture that extends through the platform and the support plate.