Bracket With Toothed Disk For Tunnel Supply Line Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing brackets for fastening supply lines to walls are expensive to manufacture and lack variability and load-bearing capacity.

Innovation Solution

A bracket design featuring a disk with toothed elements that engage with counter-toothed elements on a fastening part, allowing for stepless adjustment of the support arm's pivot position and high force transmission, along with a U-shaped cross-section for stability and easy assembly, enabling low-cost production and high variability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If cross corrugations or interlocking toothings are provided on the support arm and fastening part, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The toothed connection is segmented into two parts: toothed elements on the disk and counter-toothed elements on the fastening part. This segmentation allows the support arm to maintain a simple, inexpensive design while the fastening part bears the complexity of the toothed structure, resolving the contradiction between load-bearing capacity and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If the support arm is designed with complex features for high force transmission, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce transmission capabilityVSAvoidsupport arm design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex toothed force transmission features are extracted from the support arm and placed on the fastening part. The support arm itself remains a simple component with a constant cross-section, while the fastening part contains all the toothed elements necessary for high force transmission and form-fitting fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple slots are provided for different pivot positions, then adjustability is improved, but assembly effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepivot position variabilityVSAvoidassembly effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A single elongated hole serves multiple functions: it allows the fastening bolt to protrude through for all possible pivot positions, enables form-fitting connection via counter-toothed elements, and provides guidance for the disk. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple separate slots, maintaining adjustability while significantly reducing assembly effort.

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

4Adaptability or versatility

If the support arm has varying cross-section for different positions, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition adjustment capabilityVSAvoidsupport arm manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of changing the geometric parameters of the support arm itself, the invention changes the position parameter of the fastening bolt through the elongated hole to achieve different pivot positions. The support arm maintains a constant cross-section throughout, making it easy to manufacture from standard profiles while still providing the required adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3388690B1Bracket for fixing supply lines or the like to a wall
Publication Date: 2021.09.22 LEVIAT GMBH
  • EP3388690B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3388690B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3388690B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

A bracket (1) for attaching supply lines or the like to a wall, in particular the wall (2) of a tunnel tube, has a mounting part (3) for attachment to the wall (2) and a support arm (4) held on the mounting part (3). The support arm (4) is pivotally mounted on the mounting part (3) at a pivot joint (5) about a pivot axis (10). The bracket (1) has a fixing device (11) for fixing the support arm (4) to the mounting part (3) in different rotational positions. The fixing device (11) comprises a fixing bolt (12) that projects through at least one opening (20) of the support arm (4) and at least one elongated hole (13) of the mounting part (3).A simple construction results if the fixing device (11) comprises at least one disc (17) with an opening (36), wherein the fastening bolt (12) protrudes through the opening (36) and wherein the disc (17) has toothed elements (18, 48) which engage in counter-toothed elements (16, 46) on the fastening part (3).