Wall-Mount HMI Enclosure With Front-Access Pivot Clamps
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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 due to inefficient space usage and installation methods.
Innovation Solution
A wall mount enclosure with a clamping mechanism that includes a threaded fastener and clamp body, allowing for secure mounting and easy maintenance, featuring a gasket for sealing and a resilient member for efficient installation from one side, reducing the risk of air particulate accumulation and enhancing access for maintenance.
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 additional space adjacent the back portion of the wall is required
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism transitions from a linear back-side access arrangement to a multi-dimensional configuration where the clamp body pivots and translates within the plane of the wall opening. This allows the mechanical fittings to be accessed and operated from the front side of the wall, eliminating the need for back-side space while maintaining full access functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of accessing mechanical fittings from the back side of the wall as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the access direction by positioning the clamp body and mechanical fittings so they can be operated from the front side. The clamp body pivots outward and translates to provide access to the threaded fastener head from the front, reversing the traditional access paradigm.
2Area of stationary object
If an enclosure is mounted on walls within controlled atmosphere, then space efficiency is improved, but the risk of accumulating unwanted air particulate increases
Solution Approach 1:
A gasket is positioned between the front side of the enclosure and the wall opening to create a flexible sealing barrier. This gasket prevents unwanted air particulate and moisture from entering the enclosure while allowing the enclosure to be securely mounted on the wall within the controlled atmosphere, thus maintaining space efficiency without compromising the controlled environment.
3Strength
If a clamping mechanism with threaded fastener is used, then secure mounting is improved, but complexity of installation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp body is pre-configured with a pivot axis and translation path that guide its movement during installation. The resilient member is pre-loaded to automatically urge the clamp body into its clamping position. This preliminary configuration simplifies installation by eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures, allowing the threaded fastener to be secured from the front side through straightforward pivot and translate motions.
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 installation and maintenance of HMIs in controlled environments by providing a secure, sealed, and accessible mounting system that minimizes space usage.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member located within the enclosure and operatively connected to the clamp body and urging the clamp body in a first pivotal direction toward the initial position
Implementation Method 2
The clamp body is translatable when in the second pivotal position by continued rotation of the threaded fastener in the first rotational direction
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.