Perforated Carrier Bracket for Masonry Slip Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The connection between masonry slips and carriers in building construction can weaken over time, leading to safety concerns, particularly in tall buildings, as certain epoxy resins used for bonding emit toxic fumes during fires, and existing mechanical fixing methods are time-consuming and require precise alignment.
Innovation Solution
A covering element support arrangement that uses a carrier with a regular arrangement of perforations and a manoeuvrable bracket that can be laterally or rotatably positioned between masonry slips to facilitate easy mechanical fixing, reducing reliance on epoxy resins and allowing for quicker and more versatile attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If epoxy resins or mortar are used to bond masonry slips to carriers, then the connection strength is improved, but harmful toxic fumes are generated during fires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful epoxy resin bonding material from the system, replacing it with a mechanical fixing system consisting of brackets and fasteners that attach masonry slips to carriers without using toxic adhesives, thereby eliminating toxic fume generation during fires while maintaining connection strength
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism (epoxy resins/mortar) with a mechanical bonding mechanism (brackets with fasteners), where the bracket engages with the masonry slip and the carrier through mechanical interlocking and fastening, eliminating the need for harmful chemical adhesives
2Object-generated harmful factors
If mechanical fixings such as bolts or screws are used to retain slips on carriers, then the reliance on epoxy resins is reduced, but the installation process becomes time-consuming and requires precise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is pre-configured with an elongate aperture and positioning features that allow it to be easily aligned and fixed to the carrier before the masonry slip is installed, eliminating the need for precise post-installation alignment and reducing overall installation time
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket incorporates an elongate aperture that allows for lateral movement and adjustment during installation, enabling the bracket to be positioned flexibly relative to the masonry slip and carrier, thereby accommodating minor misalignments and reducing the time required for precise positioning
3Manufacturing precision
If predrilled holes are used in the carrier for mechanical fixes, then the alignment precision is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fixing system into separate components: the bracket with its elongate aperture and the carrier with its perforations. This segmentation allows the bracket to be independently manufactured with flexible positioning, while the carrier can be manufactured with standard perforation patterns, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining alignment precision
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket design with an elongate aperture serves multiple functions: it provides a mounting interface for the carrier, allows for lateral adjustment during installation, and enables precise positioning once installed. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate precision-drilled holes in the carrier, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity
4Stability of the object's composition
If brackets are sized and shaped to fill the space between adjacent slips, then the structural stability is improved, but the adaptability to different configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed with an elongate aperture and flexible positioning capability that allows it to adapt to different configurations and positions between adjacent masonry slips. The bracket can be laterally moved and rotated to align with various perforation patterns on the carrier, providing both structural stability and configuration adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket incorporates movable and adjustable features including lateral movement along the elongate aperture and rotation about its axis, enabling it to dynamically adapt to different positions and orientations between adjacent slips while maintaining structural stability through secure fastening to the carrier
Data Source
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AI summary
A covering element support arrangement for attaching covering elements to a building or building component. The covering element support arrangement has a carrier means for receiving covering elements thereon. The covering element support arrangement further has an attachment means for attaching covering elements to the carrier means. The attachment means involves mechanical fastening means that can be fastened to the carrier means and that are engageable with covering elements to fix the covering elements to the carrier means. The carrier means is formed at least partially from a perforated sheet and the mechanical fastening means is engageable with the perforations. The frequency of the perforations is such that a covering element can be attached to the carrier means without requiring the covering element to be initially aligned relative to any single perforation. This thereby reduces the time required to fit covering elements.