Suspended Ceiling Tile Support with Interlocking Profile Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspended ceiling systems face difficulties in easily aligning and installing ceiling tiles during assembly and inspection of the plenum space, as they often require precise alignment and complex support structures.
Innovation Solution
A suspended ceiling system featuring interlocking profile rails with T-shaped cross sections and through-holes, allowing ceiling tiles to be supported on two sides only, with grooves and skirts for alignment, enabling easy placement and removal, and interlocking profiles for stability and alignment along orthogonal directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If ceiling tiles are supported at all four sides by profile rails, then the ceiling tiles are stable and aligned, but the ceiling tiles become difficult to install and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented between two types of profile rails: T-profile rails that provide stable support at opposite sides, and U-profile rails that provide alignment through loose abutment at the other two sides. This segmentation allows ceiling tiles to be easily installed while maintaining stability and alignment.
2Device complexity
If a single set of parallel profile rails is used, then the frame system is simple, but ceiling tiles require alignment both after mounting and after each plenum space inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The frame system uses two different types of profile rails with asymmetric functions: T-profile rails for support and U-profile rails for alignment. This asymmetric design provides automatic alignment during installation while maintaining system simplicity, eliminating the need for post-installation alignment adjustments.
3Ease of operation
If ceiling tiles are easily removable for plenum space access, then maintenance access is improved, but ceiling tile alignment and stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The U-profile rails are pre-installed to create alignment guides and stops before ceiling tiles are placed. This preliminary action ensures that when ceiling tiles are removed and reinstalled for plenum access, they automatically align with the pre-established guides, maintaining precision without requiring manual adjustment.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A suspended ceiling comprises a set of ceiling tiles, a first set of profile rails, and a second set of profile rails. The profile rails in the first set of profile rails and the profile rails in the second set of profile rails are interlocked and extend substantially orthogonal to each other forming a frame system for the ceiling tiles in said set of ceiling tiles. Each ceiling tile is a substantially rectangular ceiling tile supported at opposite sides alone by the profile rails in said first set of profile rails.