Profile Rail System With Pivoting Cover Rail
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing profile rail systems lack the ability to pivot the cover rail relative to the base rail, limiting their functionality for edge terminations, expansion joints, and height adjustments between coverings of different thicknesses.
Innovation Solution
The profile rail system features webs with increasing distance along their length, allowing the cover rail to pivot, and includes locking mechanisms and resilient design for secure latching and easy dismantling, with optional kinked or arcuate web configurations and a groove for tool engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the spacing between the webs of the base rail is kept small for structural stability, then the base rail maintains high structural stability, but the cover rail cannot pivot relative to the base rail, limiting functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The base rail transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one by incorporating resilient webs that can elastically deform. The webs are designed with reduced cross-sectional areas at specific locations, allowing them to bend and create clearance space when force is applied, enabling the cover rail to pivot while maintaining overall structural stability through the elastic recovery of the webs.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-sectional dimensions of the webs are changed at specific locations to create resilient sections. By reducing the cross-sectional area of the webs at predetermined points, the local flexibility is increased while the overall structural integrity is maintained. This parameter change allows the webs to deform elastically under load, creating the necessary clearance for pivotability.
2Strength
If locking mechanisms are added to securely hold the cover rail to the base rail, then the connection strength is improved, but the complexity of the structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is merged with the existing web structure of the base rail. The locking elements are integrated into the webs themselves rather than being separate components, so the locking function is achieved through the structural design of the webs rather than through additional independent locking devices. This reduces overall structural complexity while maintaining connection strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient webs provide self-locking functionality through their elastic deformation. When the cover rail is installed, the webs elastically deform and lock into position automatically without requiring external locking mechanisms. The elastic recovery force of the webs maintains the locked state, providing self-sustaining connection strength.
3Ease of operation
If the webs are designed to be resilient with cross-sectional reductions, then the ease of operation for locking and unlocking is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cross-sectional reductions are pre-formed during the molding process rather than requiring post-manufacturing operations. The resilient sections are created as integral parts of the web structure during initial fabrication, eliminating the need for subsequent machining or forming operations. This preliminary action reduces manufacturing precision requirements by incorporating the resilient features into the primary manufacturing process.
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
Enables pivotability of the cover rail for enhanced functionality in edge terminations and height adjustments, simplifies assembly and disassembly, and ensures secure locking, thereby expanding the system's applicability and usability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the webs of the at least one base rail is resiliently designed. This allows a free end of this at least one web to move transversely to its longitudinal extent, thus enabling locking
Data Source
AI summary
A profile rail system (1) comprises a base rail (2) and a cover rail (3) attached to it. The cover rail (3) has at least one cover wing (4) for covering a surface edge (5) and webs (8). The base rail (2) in turn has webs (7) which engage the webs (8) of the cover rail (3). The mutual distance between at least two webs (7, 8) increases along their length to allow the cover rail (3) to pivot.