Slotted Profile Fastening Unit With Dual Vibration Isolation Layers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fastening units for sanitary fittings and other applications behind false walls face issues with noise and vibration due to the direct engagement of metal components, which can lead to unwanted noise and vibration transmission, particularly when pipes vibrate during water flow.

Innovation Solution

A fastening unit with a support element that interconnects a washer element and an oblong anchoring element, featuring a first layer of vibration isolating material on the underside of the washer and a second layer on the upper side of the anchoring element, providing a barrier against vibrations and noise by engaging the flanges of the profile element, thereby reducing noise and vibration transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If metal washer element and metal anchoring element directly engage the flanges of the profile element, then fire safety and creep resistance are improved, but noise and vibration transmission increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire safetyVSAvoidnoise transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a support element with vibration isolating material as an intermediary between the metal washer element and the profile element, and between the metal anchoring element and the profile element. This intermediary absorbs vibrations and prevents direct metal-to-metal contact, thereby reducing noise transmission while maintaining the structural integrity and fire safety provided by the metal components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support element is made of composite material combining rigid structural components with vibration isolating material. This composite structure provides both the mechanical strength needed for fire safety and the vibration damping properties needed to reduce noise transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If metal washer element and metal anchoring element directly engage the flanges of the profile element, then structural stability is improved, but vibration transmission increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidvibration transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support element with vibration isolating material serves as a mediator that decouples the vibration paths between the metal fastening components and the profile element, while still maintaining the structural stability through the rigid portions of the support element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If vibration isolating material is introduced between metal components and profile element, then noise and vibration transmission are reduced, but direct metal engagement for fire safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise transmissionVSAvoidfire safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support element is segmented into different functional portions: rigid portions that maintain structural integrity and fire safety, and vibration isolating material portions that reduce noise transmission. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support element uses composite material construction combining rigid structural components with vibration isolating material, enabling simultaneous achievement of fire safety (through metal-to-metal contact at critical points) and noise reduction (through vibration damping material).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 effectively reduces noise and vibration transmission between secured objects and the profile element, ensuring a quieter operation and improved stability in sanitary applications like bathrooms, while maintaining structural integrity and safety standards.

Implementation Method 1

a first layer of vibration isolating material arranged on an underside of the washer element and a second layer of vibration isolating material arranged on an upper side of the anchoring element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration isolation: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3698057B1Fastening unit
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 J VAN WALRAVEN HLDG BV
  • EP3698057B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2A
  • EP3698057B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2C
  • EP3698057B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A fastening unit (1) for fastening an object to a profile element (100), comprising a first layer of vibration isolating material (14) arranged on an underside of a washer element (2) and a second layer of vibration isolating material ((24) arranged on an upper side of a anchoring element (3), wherein the oblong anchoring element and the second layer of vibration isolating material each have a width that allows them, preferably in unity, to be aligned with a longitudinal slot (107) of the profiled element, inserted therein, and then turned to receive flanges of the profile element between the first layer of vibration isolating material and the second layer of vibration isolating material, so as to provide, at least in a fastened state of the fastening unit, a barrier for vibrations between the washer element and the flanges and between the oblong anchoring element and the flanges.