Wall-Mount HMI Enclosure Clamping for Sealed Cleanroom Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for mounting human machine interfaces (HMIs) and enclosures in controlled environments fail to effectively reduce the accumulation of unwanted air particulates and moisture, while also complicating maintenance access.
Innovation Solution
A wall mount enclosure with a clamping mechanism that includes a threaded fastener and clamp body, allowing for secure mounting and efficient maintenance, featuring a gasket for sealing and a biasing member for easy installation from one side, reducing the risk of particulate accumulation and enhancing access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an enclosure is installed within a wall opening with openings at both front and back sides, then access to mechanical fittings is improved, but the risk of air particulate accumulation in controlled atmosphere increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the mechanical fitting access function from the front side of the enclosure and relocates it to the back side only. The front side is sealed with a gasket to prevent air particulate ingress, while the back side provides access to mechanical fittings for installation and maintenance without compromising the sealed front interface.
2Area of stationary object
If an HMI device is mounted on or within walls of controlled atmosphere, then space efficiency is improved, but maintenance and replacement access becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the enclosure into a sealed front portion for controlled atmosphere interface and a back portion for maintenance access. The clamping mechanism is positioned at the back side, allowing technicians to access and operate clamps from the uncontrolled atmosphere side without needing to breach the sealed front interface or enter the controlled atmosphere.
3Reliability
If clamping mechanisms are positioned to secure enclosure within wall, then mounting reliability is improved, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional mounting approach by positioning the clamping mechanisms at the back side of the enclosure rather than the front. This allows installation from the uncontrolled atmosphere side, reversing the typical sequence where front-side mounting would require working from the controlled atmosphere side. The clamps engage with the back surface of the wall, providing secure mounting while simplifying installation procedures.
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 solution effectively reduces the risk of air particulate accumulation and facilitates efficient maintenance by providing a secure, sealed, and accessible mounting system for HMIs and enclosures in controlled environments.
Implementation Method 1
The front side has an outer perimeter with at least a portion of the outer perimeter extending outwardly beyond the side wall to interface with a front surface of the associated wall when the housing is installed in the wall opening
Implementation Method 2
The fastener has a head accessible through the interior of the enclosure, and an elongated member that is at least partially threaded. When the fastener is rotated in a first rotational direction, the clamp body pivots in a first pivotal direction for movement of at least a portion of the clamp body away from the interior of the enclosure
Implementation Method 3
featuring a gasket for sealing and a biasing member for easy installation from one side
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a wall mount enclosure for mounting in a wall, including a housing with a front side, a back side and at least one side wall defining an interior accessible from an opening in the front side, where the front side has an outer perimeter extending outwardly beyond the side wall to interface with a front surface of the wall when a plurality of clamping mechanisms are engaged to mount the enclosure to the wall. The clamping mechanisms comprise a threaded fastener having a head accessible through the interior, and an at least partially threaded elongated member. A clamp body is provided and is pivotal about an axis by pivoting the threaded fastener in a first direction away from the interior of the enclosure and linearly translatable when in a second pivotal position to engage a back portion of the wall and mount the housing.