Product category:
Bearings
News Release from: BNL (UK) | Subject: BNL plastic mechanism
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 11 April 2007
Mechanism holds shower panels in place
BNL has joined forces with Daryl Showers to produce an adjustable mechanism for securing glass shower panels into their frames.
BNL has joined forces with Daryl Showers to produce an adjustable mechanism for securing glass shower panels into their frames The plastic mechanism will significantly simplify the process involved in the installation of Daryl's shower enclosures
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 3 Jul 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Precision bearings sort out satellite comms
Sarnatech BNL has begun production of a custom designed plastic bearing for US-based KVH Industries, the world's leading provider of mobile satellite communications and television based antennas.
Plastic bearing solution resolves friction problem
Two custom-designed moulded plastic parts form the mobile base of the new TracVision A5 ultra-low-profile satellite TV antenna.
BNL's in-house design team and the Kohler Daryl Development and Design Team, working in close collaboration, have produced a mechanism which allows glass panels to be inserted directly into the aluminium frame and be locked in place with one turn of a screwdriver.
Having already provided Daryl Showers with various ball-bearing assembly solutions for its shower enclosure doors, BNL was chosen to assist in the realisation of the project.
"As ever, BNL played a pro-active role in the development process helping to turn the original concept into mass-produced reality", stated Andy Baines, Daryl's Design and Development Manager.
The design is made up of two parts, both equipped with sliding teeth.
One part is embedded in the frame of the shower and the other is attached to the glass panel itself.
Once the frame is fixed to the wall, the glass panel can be slotted into the frame, where the teeth slide together to achieve a balanced fit.
The mechanism is then locked together with one turn of a spring-loaded cam pin, fixing the glass securely in the frame.
The simplicity of the mechanism is evident; "We even left the photography chaps at their studio to install these new units with no help from us and they said that they were the easiest they had ever done", said Jon Sands, Daryl's Design Engineer.
The key benefits are that the mechanism can be loosened and re-tightened to allow adjustment of the panel in the frame, achieving the ideal positioning and helping to reduce after sales costs.
Also, there is no longer any need for drilling through the frame to secure the panels, reducing the risk of damage during installation and easing the whole process.
The mechanism will initially be placed in the Mattia and Iana range of showers intended for the house building, retail and quality builders merchants markets, where the ease of installation will be a key selling point.
It is designed to be easily adapted to fit a range of potential glass widths, so can potentially be used in other shower enclosure designs.
• BNL (UK): contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
