Profile Fixing Accessory With Flexible Link for Cladding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cladding support systems are cumbersome and time-consuming to install and remove, and they often lack load-bearing functionality due to misalignment of teeth, which can cause vibration and noise.
Innovation Solution
A profile fixing accessory with a lock element and key element, featuring a flexible link allowing relative movement in the Y-direction and a wedge to limit movement in the X-direction, ensuring secure locking and alignment with elongated profiles having sawtooth or triangular toothed edges, facilitating easy installation and de-installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If asymmetric teeth are used to allow easy movement in one direction, then installation speed is improved, but misalignment occurs due to production tolerances leading to vibration and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The lock element incorporates a flexible link that enables dynamic adjustment of the toothed sections. This flexibility allows the sections to adapt to manufacturing tolerances and achieve proper alignment with the profile groove, eliminating the vibration and noise problems while maintaining easy installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the rigidity parameter of the connection between toothed sections by introducing a flexible link. This allows the system to transition from a rigid misaligned state to a flexible aligned state, resolving the contradiction between easy installation and precise alignment.
2Manufacturing precision
If teeth are made wide to accommodate misalignment, then alignment tolerance is improved, but load-bearing capacity decreases due to reduced contact surface
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible link enables the toothed sections to dynamically adjust their positions to achieve alignment without requiring wide teeth. This dynamic adaptation maintains the full contact surface area, preserving load-bearing capacity while accommodating manufacturing tolerances.
3Device complexity
If friction-based movement is used to reposition the accessory, then no screws are needed, but the movement becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible link creates a ratcheting mechanism that allows easy forward movement (installation) while preventing backward movement (removal). This dynamic behavior provides both simplicity and ease of operation, as the accessory can be quickly installed by overcoming friction in one direction but cannot be accidentally removed.
4Productivity
If the profile fixing accessory is made movable for easy installation, then installation speed is improved, but load-bearing functionality is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a movable state during installation to a locked immovable state during use. The flexible link enables easy installation through controlled movement, while the wedge mechanism and toothed engagement provide rigid load-bearing capacity once installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge mechanism automatically locks the toothed sections in place once the accessory is installed, providing self-reinforcing load-bearing functionality without requiring additional fasteners. The system serves itself by converting installation movement into locking force.
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
The solution enables fast, secure, and fail-safe installation of cladding panels by allowing for precise alignment and locking of profile fixing accessories, addressing the issues of misalignment and vibration, while maintaining load-bearing functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible link configured to allow relative movement of both toothed sections versus one another
Implementation Method 2
the key element defining a wedge configure to cooperate with said lock for limiting the relative movement between the toothed sections
Implementation Method 3
both toothed sections joined to one another by a flexible link configured to allow relative movement of both toothed sections versus one another
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5
AI summary
A profile fixing accessory for mounting panels or covering elements of a cladding, elevated floor or lowered ceiling to elongated profiles being generally U-shaped with sidewalls defining a longitudinal groove delimited by facing edges said edges defining a toothed profile, the profile fixing accessory, comprising a lock element and a key element, i) the lock element defining two parallel and spaced apart toothed sections extending in a Y-direction, both toothed sections joined to one another by a flexible link configured to allow relative movement of both toothed sections versus one another in the Y-direction and an X-direction perpendicular to said Y-direction; ii) the key element defining a wedge configure to cooperate with said lock for limiting the relative movement between the toothed sections in the X-direction.