Universal Support Rail with Hooks and Slots
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support devices for wire cable trays are often limited in their versatility and are not suitable for various mounting configurations, requiring multiple devices for different situations, which can be inconvenient and inefficient for installers.
Innovation Solution
A universal support rail with an elongated, rectangular section featuring hooks and slots that allow for multiple assembly configurations, enabling the rail to be fixed to various surfaces and extended to support cable trays or other rails, facilitating flexible and adaptable mounting options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different support devices are used for different mounting configurations, then the suitability for specific mounting situations is improved, but the device complexity and the number of components required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support rail is designed with a symmetric rectangular section and identical hooks on all four longitudinal faces, allowing the same rail to be mounted on ceilings, walls, or floors in any orientation. This universal design eliminates the need for different support devices for different mounting configurations, resolving the contradiction by providing multi-functionality with a single component type.
Solution Approach 2:
The support system is divided into modular rail sections that can be connected end-to-end using hooks and slots. This segmentation allows the system to be adapted to various lengths and configurations while using only one type of rail component, maintaining versatility without increasing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different support devices are used for different mounting configurations, then the suitability for specific mounting situations is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Installers only need to learn how to install one type of rail with identical hooks and slots on all faces. The universal design means the same installation procedure applies regardless of mounting location (ceiling, wall, or floor), significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining adaptability to different configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a support rail is designed with hooks and slots for multiple assembly configurations, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rail employs symmetric design rather than asymmetric - all four longitudinal faces are identical with hooks at ends and slots along the length. This symmetry ensures that the same structural design works for any mounting orientation, providing multiple assembly configurations without increasing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing different rail profiles for different mounting orientations, the invention inverts the approach by making all faces identical. This allows the rail to be mounted in any orientation without requiring different structural designs, achieving adaptability while maintaining simple, uniform structure.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
The rail has side faces (4) connecting a support face (8) to a fixing face (2), where each side face carries a pair of hooks (12) at an end face (10). The hooks extend toward outside the rail along longitudinal direction of the rail. A face among the support face, fixing face and the side faces carries a pair of slots (14) sized and arranged such that the slots cooperate with the hooks. The hooks are formed in L-shape and connected to a corresponding side face by a folded tab such that the hooks extend in a plane parallel to the side faces, and are off-set toward interior of the rail.