Universal refrigeration unit installation bracket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mounting brackets for evaporator units in truck refrigeration systems are inflexible, restricting the ability to change refrigeration systems without extensive rework and are prone to misinstallation due to communication errors between owners and installers.
Innovation Solution
A universal mounting bracket system with spaced-apart brace members, multiple cross members, and sets of attachment and evaporator connection devices at predetermined locations, allowing for the mounting of various commercially available evaporator units without reconfiguring the bracket or truck body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single-type mounting bracket is used for a specific refrigeration system, then the mounting is precise and reliable for that system, but the system lacks flexibility to accommodate different refrigeration systems without extensive rework
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is designed with multiple evaporator connection device sets at different locations, allowing a single bracket to accommodate multiple different evaporator units from various refrigeration systems. This universal design enables the bracket to perform multiple mounting functions without requiring system-specific custom brackets, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket is divided into distinct functional components: brace members for structural support, cross members for positioning, and multiple sets of evaporator connection devices for different evaporator types. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall versatility, resolving the contradiction by organizing complexity into manageable segments.
2Manufacturing precision
If custom mounting brackets are manufactured for each refrigeration system type, then the mounting precision is high, but the manufacturing cost and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal mounting bracket design with multiple evaporator connection device sets can accommodate various evaporator units while maintaining mounting precision. This eliminates the need to manufacture separate custom brackets for each refrigeration system type, significantly improving manufacturing efficiency without sacrificing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket is pre-configured with multiple sets of evaporator connection devices at predetermined locations during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation allows installers to quickly connect different evaporator types without requiring custom bracket fabrication, thereby maintaining high mounting precision while improving manufacturing and installation efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If the mounting bracket is designed for a specific evaporator unit, then the installation is straightforward for that unit, but any change in refrigeration system requires extensive rework of the bracket and structural support
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket incorporates multiple sets of evaporator connection devices that can accommodate different evaporator units from various refrigeration systems. This universal design maintains ease of installation for any supported evaporator type while enabling system changes without extensive rework, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket is designed with flexible connectivity options through multiple connection device sets, allowing it to adapt dynamically to different evaporator configurations. This dynamic capability enables straightforward installation of various evaporator types while maintaining the ability to change systems without extensive rework.
4Reliability
If multiple custom mounting brackets are produced for different evaporator positions, then each evaporator can be mounted correctly, but the inventory complexity and installation error risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal mounting bracket with multiple evaporator connection device sets can correctly mount various evaporator units at different positions. This eliminates the need to manage multiple custom bracket variants in inventory, reducing complexity and installation error risk while maintaining high installation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions for mounting different evaporator types are merged into a single mounting bracket design. By combining multiple evaporator connection device sets into one bracket, the system achieves correct installation capability for various evaporators without requiring separate bracket variants, thereby reducing inventory complexity and error risk.
Data Source
AI summary
A universal mounting bracket, mounting system and method for an evaporator unit of a refrigeration system in a truck body provides for mounting any one of a selected number of currently available evaporator units.