Profiled Strip Tongue-and-Groove Interlock for Honeycomb Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing profiled strips for honeycomb-shaped separating assemblies in wastewater treatment facilities are not easily assembled into robust structures, requiring additional securing methods like adhesion or welding.
Innovation Solution
A profiled strip design featuring tongue-and-groove connecting sections with a projection that hooks into an undercut, forming a locking connection without lateral projection, and reinforced with ribs for increased rigidity, allowing for easy assembly and robust interlocking without additional securing means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional tongue-and-groove connecting sections are used on profiled strips, then assembly is possible, but additional securing means like adhesion or welding are required to ensure robust connections
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting section is segmented into distinct functional elements: a tongue with a projection and a groove with an undercut. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function - the projection provides insertion guidance and the undercut provides locking - enabling easy assembly while ensuring robust connection without additional securing means
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting mechanism is designed to be self-securing through the interaction between the projection and undercut. When the tongue is inserted into the groove, the projection automatically engages with the undercut to form a locking connection, eliminating the need for external adhesion or welding processes
2Strength
If tongue connecting sections project laterally from the connecting side, then connection strength is improved, but assembly complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The groove connecting section projects from the base side rather than laterally from the connecting side, utilizing a different spatial dimension. This vertical projection from the base side maintains connection strength through the undercut locking mechanism while avoiding the space and complexity issues associated with lateral projections
Data Source
AI summary
A method of forming a honeycomb-shaped assembly comprises providing a plurality of profiled strips. Each of the profiled strips comprises two base sides positioned at an obtuse angle relative to each other to form a trough-shaped configuration. An inner projecting flange and an outer projecting flange extend from the base sides. One of the inner projecting flange and outer projecting flange comprises an groove. Two connecting sides each extend along a plane from one of the two base sides and each includes at least one free end including a projection. The plurality of profiled strips are stacked to form an octagonal honeycomb configuration by inserting the projection of a connecting side of one of the plurality of profiled strips into the groove of a base side of another of the plurality of profiled strips. At least a portion of the projection is received by the groove in an interlocking manner.