Adjustable Connection Device for Concrete Wall Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing concrete safety barriers for road traffic lanes face challenges in combining cast-in-place and prefabricated elements, leading to issues with temporary protection, maintenance, and safety due to uncontrolled deviations and potential collisions with sensitive equipment.
Innovation Solution
A connection device that allows for the secure linking of prefabricated and cast-in-place concrete wall elements using an adaptable connector system, ensuring precise alignment and immobilization, along with a cover to maintain continuity and prevent gaps, facilitating easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If prefabricated concrete elements are used to create a mobile barrier system, then ease of assembly and disassembly is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential displacement by vehicle collision
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier system is divided into modular prefabricated concrete elements that can be independently assembled and disassembled. Each element contains embedded connection components (steel plates, bolts, or pins) that enable rapid assembly without requiring concrete pouring, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining structural integrity through proper segmentation of the barrier system.
2Reliability
If cast-in-place concrete barriers are used, then reliability is improved due to structural integration with roadway, but ease of operation deteriorates due to time-consuming construction and difficulty of maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
Connection components (steel plates, bolts, or pins) are pre-embedded into the prefabricated concrete elements during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for on-site concrete pouring and reinforcement installation, significantly reducing construction time and simplifying maintenance operations while maintaining reliable structural integration through the pre-positioned connection elements.
3Ease of operation
If prefabricated elements are simply placed on ground, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to uncontrolled displacement and potential damage to sensitive equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the simplicity of placing prefabricated elements with the control of anchored positioning by integrating connection components directly into each element. The elements are combined with steel plates, bolts, or pins that enable controlled positioning and secure attachment to the ground or adjacent elements, preventing uncontrolled displacement while maintaining ease of installation through modular assembly.
4Productivity
If modular barrier system with prefabricated elements is used, then productivity is improved through quick assembly, but reliability deteriorates due to gaps between elements that could allow passage
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system between prefabricated elements incorporates adjustable and adaptable features that allow dynamic adjustment of element positioning. The steel plates with multiple hole patterns or adjustable bolting systems enable workers to quickly close gaps between elements during assembly while maintaining the overall modular structure, thus preserving both high assembly speed and reliable impassability.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
- The invention relates to a device for connecting a first and a second concrete wall element (1, 2), comprising a first connecting element (4) intended to be attached to the first wall element (1), a second connecting element (5) intended to be attached to the second wall element (2) and a first connector (6) designed to attach said first and second connecting elements (4, 5) together, said connecting device being characterized in that it comprises a means for adapting the position of the first connector (6) relative to the second connecting element (5), said adapting means (7) allowing a plurality of possible relative positions of the first connector (6) and the second connecting element (5) along the longitudinal direction (D),said first connector (6) being provided with a locking means (6A) designed to immobilize said first connector (6) and second connecting element (5) in each of said possible relative positions. - Connection of concrete wall elements.