Z-Shaped Rail Wedge Clamping for Screwless Stable Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rails with a Z-shaped cross-section, made from roll-formed or cold-rolled strip steel, often lack suitable fastening grooves or edges, making them difficult to securely attach without screws, particularly in applications requiring easy, quick, and resilient mounting.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a retaining plate with an incision and a screwless clamping mechanism that uses a wedge to press the rail's fastening flange against the plate's edge, providing secure attachment without screws, and can be easily assembled and manufactured with few components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a Z-shaped rail is used, then the structural integrity and load-bearing capacity are improved, but the ease of fastening without screws deteriorates due to lack of suitable fastening grooves or edges
Solution Approach 1:
A retaining plate with an integrated incision serves as an intermediary component between the Z-shaped rail and the mounting surface. The incision acts as a mediator that receives and secures the rail's fastening flange, enabling screwless attachment while maintaining the structural integrity of the Z-shaped rail design
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining plate is divided into functional segments: an incision with first and second edge portions for receiving the rail, a screwless clamping means for securing, and a third edge portion acting as a stop. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function in the fastening process
2Productivity
If a screwless clamping mechanism is used, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the reliability of fastening may deteriorate without threaded fasteners
Solution Approach 1:
The screwless clamping means employs a dynamic wedging action where the clamping means is driven between the fastening flange and the second edge portion, spreading apart to press the flange against the first edge portion. This dynamic insertion process creates a reliable, resilient connection without requiring threaded fasteners
Solution Approach 2:
The third edge portion is designed as a stop that preliminarily prevents the rail from escaping in a direction parallel to the first edge portion. This preliminary restraint works together with the clamping means to ensure reliable fastening while maintaining ease of assembly
3Ease of manufacture
If the retaining plate is made as a single integrated component, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the precision of the incision and clamping geometry becomes more difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining plate is designed as a single integrated component where the incision and the screwless clamping means are merged into one piece. This integration simplifies manufacturing to a single stamping or forming operation while the design inherently accommodates normal dimensional tolerances, ensuring functional precision without requiring ultra-precise manufacturing
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
Enables easy and stable attachment of Z-shaped rails with high resilience, reducing manufacturing complexity and ensuring secure fastening, even under tensile forces, while preventing unintentional loosening or tilting.
Implementation Method 1
The screwless tightening means is a wedge that can be driven in translation between the mounting flange of the rail and the second edge portion of the incision
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A device for fixing a Z-shaped rail (1) has a retaining plate (10) and a screwless clamping means (30). The retaining plate (10) contains a groove (11) with an end opening (12). A fastening flange (2) of the Z-shaped rail (1) is inserted into the groove (11) and thereby passes through the retaining plate (10) so as to cross same. The groove (11) has a first edge portion (14), a second edge portion (15) which is opposite the first edge portion, and a third edge portion (16). The fastening flange (2) is supported on the first edge portion (14), said screwless clamping means (30) expanding between the fastening flange (2) and the second edge portion (15) and pressing the fastening flange (2) against the first edge portion (14). The third edge portion (16) functions as a stop which blocks the Z-shaped rail (1) from coming loose from the groove (11) in a direction (18) parallel to the first edge portion (14). The Z-shaped rail (1) can be fixed in an easy-to-assemble and stable manner using the device. The device has only two components and can be produced so as to be suitable for manufacture. In particular, the screwless clamping means can be a wedge.