Modular Spherical Ornamental Fixture for Automated Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ornamental light fixtures, particularly spherical crystal chandeliers, are difficult to clean and maintain due to intricate mounting structures that can be damaged by automated washing processes, and existing methods prevent their use in dishwashers to avoid damage.
Innovation Solution
A disassemblable spherical ornamental fixture with a support frame assembly and arcuate sector assemblies that allow for easy servicing, relamping, and washing in an automated washer without risking damage to the ornaments or support structure, featuring removable sector assemblies and corrosion-resistant materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated washing is used to clean ornamental fixtures, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but the ornaments and support structure are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture is divided into modular sector assemblies that can be detached from the support frame. Each sector assembly contains ornaments mounted on a rigid support structure with specific geometric features (recesses, protrusions) that enable secure attachment and easy removal. This segmentation allows the ornaments to be protected during automated washing by removing them from vulnerable mounting positions.
Solution Approach 2:
A specialized support structure acts as an intermediary between the ornaments and the washing environment. The support frame assembly provides a robust framework with corrosion-resistant properties that protects the ornaments during handling and washing. The intermediary structure absorbs the mechanical stresses of automated washing while maintaining ornament integrity.
2Reliability
If hand cleaning is used to avoid damage, then ornament integrity is maintained, but cleaning time and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the fixture into removable sector assemblies, the invention enables efficient hand cleaning procedures. Each sector can be individually detached and cleaned without handling fragile ornaments directly, reducing cleaning time while maintaining ornament integrity. The modular design allows parallel cleaning of multiple sectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is designed to facilitate self-cleaning capabilities. The geometric features (recesses, protrusions, channels) enable the fixture to be easily assembled and disassembled without specialized tools or expertise. The corrosion-resistant materials reduce maintenance requirements, allowing routine cleaning without professional intervention.
3Reliability
If intricate mounting structures are used to secure ornaments, then ornament retention is improved, but disassembly for maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is segmented into standardized components with repeating geometric patterns. Each sector assembly uses identical recess-protrusion interfaces, allowing for easy disassembly and reassembly. The segmentation enables maintenance personnel to work on individual sectors without disturbing the entire fixture, simplifying repair operations while maintaining secure ornament retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure employs universal mounting features that serve multiple functions: securing ornaments during operation, facilitating easy disassembly for maintenance, and enabling reconfiguration for cleaning. The standardized geometric interfaces (recesses, protrusions, channels) provide consistent attachment mechanisms throughout the fixture, making the system adaptable to various maintenance scenarios.
4Stability of the object's composition
If non-removable sector assemblies are used, then structural stability is improved, but servicing and relamping become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture is segmented into modular sector assemblies that maintain structural stability when assembled but can be individually removed for servicing. Each sector assembly is designed as a complete functional unit with its own support structure, allowing it to be detached and reattached without compromising the overall structural integrity of the fixture.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system transitions from a static, fixed configuration to a dynamic, reconfigurable system. The sector assemblies can be securely attached during operation to provide structural stability, then easily detached when servicing is required. The geometric features enable this dynamic transition between stable operational state and serviceable disassembled state.
Data Source
AI summary
An ornamental fixture having a support structure and a plurality of ornaments mounted to the support structure in a substantially completely spherical arrangement of ornaments. The ornaments may be glass crystal ornaments, for example, octagonal glass crystals, and a light may be mounted within the fixture. The support structure may include an upper support ring and at least one lower support ring vertically spaced from the upper support ring and a plurality of arcuate sector assemblies removably mounted to the upper support ring and the at least one lower support ring. The sector assemblies retain the ornaments to provide a substantially continuous 360-degree array of ornaments. The sector assemblies can also be disassembled from the support structure for maintenance, servicing, relamping, and cleaning of the fixture. For example, the disassembled components of the fixture may be washed in a dishwasher without damaging the ornaments or the support structure.