Spring Wire Duct Profile Assembly Without Surface Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of duct profiles in kitchen ovens and hoods using standard fastening elements like screws and rivets is time-consuming and can cause damage to painted surfaces, leading to corrosion issues and safety hazards during cleaning, while existing screw-free solutions are complex and expensive.
Innovation Solution
A spring-like securing wire with two arms is used to rapidly attach and detach duct profiles of varying cross-sections to flat surfaces, avoiding damage by stretching to secure tabs on the surface and easily releasing from them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard fastening elements like screws and rivets are used to assemble duct profiles, then the connection is secure and reliable, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and causes damage to painted surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into a spring element with multiple arms that can independently engage with securing tabs. Each arm can be individually stretched and released, allowing for rapid assembly and disassembly without compromising connection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element provides dynamic fastening capability where the arms can be elastically deformed during assembly and remain under tension during use. This dynamic mechanism allows quick attachment by simply stretching the arms onto tabs and rapid detachment by releasing the tension
2Reliability
If standard fastening elements like screws and rivets are used to assemble duct profiles, then the connection is secure, but the painted surfaces and coatings are damaged leading to corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The spring arms act as intermediaries between the duct profile and the securing tabs. Instead of sharp screws directly contacting and damaging the painted surface, the spring arms distribute the fastening force across larger contact areas, preventing surface damage and subsequent corrosion
Solution Approach 2:
The contact pressure and force distribution are changed by using elastic spring arms instead of rigid fasteners. The spring arms naturally distribute the clamping force over a larger area, reducing peak stresses that would otherwise concentrate and damage the painted surface
3Reliability
If screw connections are used on duct profiles, then the assembly is secure, but cleaning becomes difficult and dangerous due to sharp screws
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful sharp screw elements are completely extracted from the fastening system and replaced with smooth spring arms. This eliminates the safety hazard during cleaning while maintaining secure assembly through the elastic tension of the spring elements engaging with the securing tabs
4Loss of time
If existing screw-free connection devices are used, then assembly is faster and surfaces are protected, but the production is difficult and the elements are expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The material state and geometric parameters of the spring arms are optimized to achieve the desired elastic properties using conventional spring design principles. This allows the use of standard metal forming and spring manufacturing processes, avoiding the need for expensive or complex production methods while maintaining rapid assembly capability
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element with multiple arms serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides secure fastening through elastic tension, protects surfaces through distributed contact pressure, enables rapid assembly and disassembly through simple stretching and releasing actions, and can accommodate various duct profile shapes. This multi-functionality is achieved with a simple, inexpensive spring structure
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 rapid, reliable, and cost-effective assembly and disassembly of duct profiles without damaging surfaces, facilitating easy cleaning and reducing assembly time and costs, while being safe for users.
Implementation Method 1
a connection spring (1) is attached to mutual slots (32) formed on a surface (3) onto which assembly is to be made. This spring (1) also surrounds a duct profile (2) and is used in securing the duct (2) onto the surface (3)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
In the present device, when the duct profile (2) is assembled to the surface (3), the tip section (12) of the securing wire (1) becomes settled into the slot (32). The duct flange (23) leans against the surface (23) so as to surround the hole (33) provided at the surface. In this position, the body part (13, 13') of the securing wire (1) surrounds the profile (2). Once the arms (11) are stretched towards each other and thus attached to the securing tabs (31, 31'), the securing wire (1) embraces the profile (2) tightly and leans against the flange (23) concurrently. Said securing tabs (31, 31') are formed so as to prevent the removal of said arms (11, 11') from the surface.