Cladding Panel Locking Mechanism Fluid Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing panel systems for surface cladding, such as floor panels, face challenges in achieving complete fluid resistance, particularly against water, due to their design and contact surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The panel design incorporates complementary wave structures on the surfaces of the locking elements, enhancing the fluid resistance by increasing the interface complexity between the locking and locking elements, thereby preventing fluid passage more effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the contact area between upper and lower coupling elements is increased to improve fluid resistance, then the fluid resistance increases, but the device complexity increases due to larger and more complex coupling elements
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling elements are divided into multiple coupling sections (first, second, and third coupling sections) along the longitudinal axis. Each coupling section contains multiple locking elements and locking receptacles distributed across its width. This segmentation allows the fluid resistance function to be distributed across multiple smaller interfaces rather than requiring one large complex interface, thereby improving fluid resistance without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking elements and locking receptacles are arranged in multiple rows across the width of the coupling elements, utilizing the transverse dimension. This multi-row arrangement increases the effective contact area and fluid resistance path without requiring the coupling elements to be longer or more complex in their primary structure, effectively adding a dimensional solution to the fluid resistance problem.
2Reliability
If multiple locking elements and locking receptacles are arranged in multiple rows across the width of the coupling elements, then the fluid resistance increases, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling elements are designed with a modular structure where locking elements and locking receptacles follow standardized patterns across multiple rows. This universal design allows the same basic components to be repeated across different positions and rows, simplifying manufacturing processes compared to designing unique complex structures for each position. The modular approach enables standardized production while achieving enhanced fluid resistance through multiple rows of coupling sections.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a panel (10a, 10b) for cladding a surface, comprising a panel element enclosed by a flat panel surface (12), a flat panel underside (14) spaced apart from and parallel to the panel underside, and four panel side surfaces each connecting the panel surface to the panel underside, wherein mutually complementary coupling elements (16, 18) in the form of an upper coupling element (16) and a lower coupling element (18) are arranged on two opposing panel side surfaces, which are configured such that they enable a coupling of a first such panel (10a) with a second such panel (10b) by means of a relative movement of the upper coupling element (16) of the first panel (10a) towards the lower coupling element (18) of the second panel (10b), wherein a first coupling section of the coupling elements (16, 18), a second coupling section of the coupling elements (16,18) and a third coupling section of the coupling elements (16, 18) are provided, and the upper coupling element (16) has a locking receptacle (28) adjoining the latching element (24), and the lower coupling element (18) has a locking element (30) adjoining the latching receptacle (26) at its distal end, which engages in the locking receptacle (28) when two panels (10a, 10b) are coupled, so that the locking receptacle (28) together with the locking element (30) forms the third coupling section of the coupling elements (16, 18). According to the invention, the surfaces (32, 34) of the locking receptacle (28) and the locking element (30) facing each other when two panels (10a, 10b) are coupled have complementary wave structures. In this way, a panel (10a, 10b) is provided for cladding a surface, which has a particularly high fluid resistance.