Mounting Rail Connector With Slotted Adjustment for Variable Hole Spacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors for mounting rails and rod elements face issues with inconsistent hole intervals, limited positional adjustment, and inability to adapt to varying mounting hole arrangements, leading to improper mounting and potential twisting of pipe bundles.

Innovation Solution

A connector with a substrate featuring extending slots and a perpendicular nut, allowing for step-less adjustment and adaptation to different mounting hole configurations, ensuring secure fastening at any desired position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If common round mounting holes are used on the substrate, then the connector can be manufactured simply, but the mounting position is limited to fixed intervals and cannot be adjusted continuously along the longitudinal side wall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmounting position adjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting holes are transformed from fixed circular holes to elongated slot openings that can adapt to different positions. The slots extend along the longitudinal direction, allowing the connector to be mounted at any position within the slot length rather than being restricted to specific hole centers,从而实现 continuous position adjustment while maintaining simple substrate manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting hole shape is changed from zero-dimensional circular points to one-dimensional elongated slots. This dimensional transformation allows the connector to accommodate mounting holes at various positions along the longitudinal axis, converting a discrete positioning system into a continuous positioning system while keeping the substrate structure simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the interval between mounting holes on the substrate is fixed, then the substrate structure is simple, but it may be inconsistent with the interval between mounting holes on the mounting girder, resulting in failure to fix the connector

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate structure complexityVSAvoidconnector fixation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fixed interval between mounting holes is replaced by elongated slots that can accommodate variable hole spacing. The slot design allows the connector to be mounted on mounting girders with different hole intervals without requiring custom substrates, ensuring reliable fixation while maintaining a simple, universal substrate structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate with elongated slots serves multiple mounting configurations and adapts to different mounting girder types with varying hole arrangements. This universal design allows a single substrate type to reliably fix connectors on various mounting structures, eliminating the need for multiple specialized substrate variants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If mounting holes are arranged in fixed patterns on the mounting girder, then the mounting girder manufacturing is simple, but the connector cannot be mounted at the most proper position, causing pipe bundle twisting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting girder manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidpipe bundle alignment ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connector's elongated slots provide dynamic positioning capability that adapts to the fixed mounting hole patterns on the mounting girder. This allows the pipe bundle to be aligned properly at the optimal position within the slot range, ensuring straight line arrangement while keeping the mounting girder manufacturing simple with standard hole patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4469691B1Connector for mounting rail
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 HILTI AG
  • EP4469691B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4469691B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4469691B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A connector for a mounting rail is provided. The mounting rail comprises at least one side wall which extends longitudinally. The side wall has at least one row of mounting holes arranged at intervals. The connector comprises a substrate abutting against the side wall and a nut which is arranged to be perpendicular to the substrate and configured to connect a rod element. The substrate is provided with at least two mounting openings. The mounting openings are extending slots. Each of the slots has at least one end with a recess which deviates from an extending direction of the slots. The connector of the present invention can be simply and conveniently fastened to the mounting rail. The mounting position of the connector is adjustable according to user needs. Besides, the connector can be adapted to mounting holes, which varies in arrangement, of a mounting girder to provide a convenient and reliable connection between the mounting rail and the rod element.