Socket and Frame Assembly With Friction Collar Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing units for heating or cooling systems face challenges in adapting to different environments and maintaining a secure, aesthetic mounting system, particularly when the second part's collar is larger than the frame's opening, requiring innovative solutions for secure fixation and alignment.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a compressible material between the collar and frame, with a catch mechanism having multiple locking positions, ensures secure mounting and alignment, utilizing a friction force greater than twice the frame's weight to maintain position, and allowing for different frame sizes and easy operation with enlarged display areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the second part comprises a collar larger than the frame's opening to ensure secure fixation, then the mounting reliability is improved, but the alignment precision deteriorates because the opening is not completely filled by the connecting section
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is designed with a larger diameter than the frame opening, creating an intentional parameter mismatch that enables both secure fixation and alignment. The size difference allows the collar to engage the frame while providing visible alignment reference marks on the frame surface.
Solution Approach 2:
A compressible material is introduced as an intermediary element between the collar and the frame. This material fills the gap created by the size difference, ensures complete contact, and maintains reliable fixation while allowing the collar to serve as an alignment reference.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a compressible material is arranged between the collar and frame to generate friction force, then the mounting stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar diameter is intentionally made larger than the frame opening, creating a parameter difference that allows the compressible material to be effectively compressed. This generates sufficient friction force for stable mounting without requiring complex additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressible material serves as a simple intermediary element that transforms the size difference between collar and frame into a stable friction-based connection. This single component provides both filling and friction-generating functions without complicating the overall device structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the opening is larger than the connecting section to accommodate different frames, then the adaptability is improved, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates because the opening is visible
Solution Approach 1:
The collar diameter is designed to exceed the frame opening size, creating an intentional parameter mismatch. This allows the same collar to work with various frame sizes while the collar itself covers the visible opening gap, maintaining aesthetic appearance across different frame configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical connection, acts as an alignment reference, and conceals the opening gap. This multi-functionality allows the same component to maintain aesthetic appearance while accommodating different frame sizes and configurations.
4Reliability
If the distance between locking positions is smaller than the uncompressed thickness of the compressible material, then the mounting reliability is improved, but the ease of operation worsens because the second part must be pushed further to reach sufficient compression
Solution Approach 1:
The locking position spacing is deliberately designed to be smaller than the uncompressed thickness of the compressible material. This parameter relationship ensures that when the second part is mounted, the compressible material is sufficiently compressed to generate reliable friction forces for secure fixation.
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
This solution enables secure, adaptable mounting of units across various environments with different frames, ensuring reliable operation and user-friendly interface enhancements.
Implementation Method 1
said compressible material being pressed against said frame by means of said collar, wherein said first part and said second part are connected by means of a catch mechanism
Implementation Method 2
a compressible material is arranged between said collar and said frame, said compressible material being pressed against said frame by means of said collar
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A unit (1) comprising a socket (2) forming a first part, a second part (3) mountable on the socket (2), a frame (5) between the socket (2) and the second part (3), said frame having an opening (6) surrounding a connection section (7) of the two parts (2, 3). It should be made possible to use the unit in different environments. To this end said opening (6) is larger than said connecting section (7) and said second part (3) comprises a collar (8) being larger than said opening (6).