Vertically Unlockable Panel Joint With Displaceable Tongue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical locking systems for panels, such as building panels, face challenges in ease of assembly and disassembly, and manufacturing tolerances, particularly in the edge portions, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical locking system for panels featuring a displaceable tongue with a displacement groove and an elongated element that allows for vertical unlocking, where the tongue is displaced along a specific axis to engage with a tongue groove for locking and unlocking, utilizing an unlocking groove configured to receive the elongated element, ensuring precise alignment and reduced friction during disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical locking system with a displaceable tongue is used for vertical locking of panels, then the locking reliability is improved, but the difficulty of unlocking and disassembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
An elongated element is introduced as an intermediary tool to interact with the tongue and displacement groove system. The elongated element engages with the tongue through the displacement groove, enabling controlled displacement of the tongue from the locked position without requiring direct manipulation of the tongue itself, thus facilitating easy unlocking while preserving locking reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system is segmented into distinct functional components: the tongue for locking, the displacement groove for controlling tongue movement, and the elongated element for unlocking. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the tongue provides reliable locking when engaged, while the displacement groove and elongated element provide a simple unlocking mechanism
2Manufacturing precision
If tight manufacturing tolerances are applied to edge portions for precise locking engagement, then the locking precision is improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the critical parameter from edge portion dimensions to the geometry of the displacement groove and tongue profile. By making the displacement groove and tongue with standardized profiles rather than requiring tight tolerances on edge portions, the system achieves precise locking engagement through the interaction geometry rather than through tight manufacturing tolerances on the edge materials themselves
Solution Approach 2:
The tongue and displacement groove are designed to self-align during assembly. The geometry of the displacement groove and tongue automatically guides proper positioning and engagement, eliminating the need for tight manufacturing tolerances on the edge portions. The system self-corrects minor variations in edge positioning through the guided engagement mechanism
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
The system facilitates easier and cost-effective assembly and disassembly of panels by minimizing manufacturing tolerances and reducing frictional forces, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The tongue is pushed into the displacement groove during a vertical assembling of the panels and springs back into the tongue groove of an adjacent second panel when the panels have reached a locked position
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The present invention relates to set of essentially identical panels (1, 2), such as building panels, provided with a mechanical locking system including a displaceable tongue (30) arranged in a displacement groove (40) having a first opening at a first edge (11) of a first panel (1). The tongue (30) is configured to be displaced in the displacement groove (40) along a displacement axis to attain a locking state wherein a first portion (31) of the tongue (30) cooperates with a first tongue groove (20) having a second opening at a second edge (22) of an adjacent second panel (2), for vertical locking of the first and the second edge (11, 22).A second portion (32) of the tongue (30) is configured to cooperate with the second edge (22) of the adjacent second panel (2) via an elongated element (70) for vertical unlocking of the first and the second edge (11, 22).