Water Heater Mounting Bracket With Sliding Wall Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water heater attachment structures require strict alignment, are difficult to visually check, and do not allow for fine adjustments after installation, especially when the wall is weak or non-existent, making the process labor-intensive and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
An attachment structure featuring a first metal fitting with a support portion extended from the wall surface attachment portion and a second metal fitting with an engagement portion that can slide horizontally, allowing for easy and secure attachment without strict alignment, and enabling fine adjustments post-attachment by allowing the water heater to be lowered along the wall surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional attachment structures with screws and hanging holes are used, then the water heater can be fixed to the wall, but strict alignment is required and visual check is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a metal fitting as an intermediary component between the water heater and the wall. This metal fitting includes a bracket portion that extends downward and can be visually checked for alignment, serving as a mediator that simplifies the attachment process while ensuring reliable fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring alignment of screw holes from the back surface, the patent inverts the approach by providing a bracket portion that extends downward from the metal fitting. This allows the worker to visually check and align the bracket portion from the front, making the alignment process easier while maintaining attachment reliability.
2Weight of moving object
If the water heater is large and heavy, then it can provide sufficient heating capacity, but the attachment work becomes difficult and burdensome for one worker
Solution Approach 1:
The metal fitting with its extended bracket portion serves as a mediator that provides a convenient attachment point. The bracket portion can be easily aligned and engaged with the wall-mounted metal fitting, allowing one worker to safely handle and attach the heavy water heater without requiring complex lifting and alignment maneuvers.
3Ease of manufacture
If the attachment position is decided in advance, then the installation is simplified, but fine adjustment of the position cannot be performed after attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the attachment system dynamic by allowing the bracket portion of the metal fitting to slide horizontally along the wall-mounted metal fitting after initial attachment. This dynamic capability enables fine adjustment of the water heater position while maintaining a simple initial installation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system is segmented into two independent metal fittings: one mounted on the wall and another attached to the water heater. This segmentation allows the water heater-side fitting to be independently adjusted along the wall-mounted fitting, providing position flexibility while keeping the overall installation simple.
4Ease of operation
If the water heater needs to be slid in the lateral direction during attachment, then it can be installed on the wall, but it cannot be employed when obstacles exist on either side or in recessed portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides a dynamic attachment mechanism where the bracket portion can slide horizontally along the wall-mounted metal fitting. This sliding capability allows the water heater to be attached in various locations including recessed portions and areas with obstacles, as the fitting can be positioned horizontally after initial engagement rather than requiring precise pre-alignment.
5Reliability
If the bracket portion is not fully inserted into the insertion space, then incomplete attachment occurs, but this state is difficult to detect visually
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual indication through the extended bracket portion that can be seen from the front. When the bracket portion is fully engaged with the wall-mounted metal fitting, its position and engagement state are visually apparent, allowing the worker to confirm complete attachment. The bracket portion's extension creates a visible reference that indicates proper installation.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an attachment structure for a water heater capable of easily and securely attaching the water heater to a wall surface without performing strict alignment, and capable of fine adjustment of an attachment position of the water heater even after the attachment. The attachment structure for the water heater includes a first metal fitting (1) having a wall surface attachment portion (11) configured to be attached to a wall surface (W), and a second metal fitting (2) having an instrument attachment portion (23) configured to be attached to a back surface of the instrument body (3). In the wall surface attachment portion 11, a support portion (12) configured to hang and support a weight of the water heater is extended in a direction separate from the wall surface (W). In the instrument attachment portion (23), an engagement portion configured to engage with the support portion (12) from above is extended in a direction separate from the instrument body (3), and a lateral length of the support portion (12) is set to enough length to slide the engagement portion in a horizontal direction.