Anchor Base Member With Reconfigurable Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anchors for concrete substrates are prone to installation errors due to debris and surface imperfections on the form board, leading to compromised anchor integrity.
Innovation Solution
A base member with a reconfigurable barrier that restricts wet concrete ingress during installation and allows easy access to a support member post-concrete setting, ensuring proper installation and anchor integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the anchor is installed directly on the form board without protection, then the installation process is simple, but wet concrete can ingress into the anchor point causing compromised anchor integrity
Solution Approach 1:
A barrier is provided in the anchor assembly before concrete pouring to prevent concrete ingress into the anchor point. This preliminary protective action ensures that the anchor point remains clean and intact throughout the concrete setting process, eliminating the need for post-installation repairs or replacements.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier acts as an intermediary element between the anchor point and the wet concrete. It temporarily blocks the aperture to prevent concrete from entering the anchor point, then allows controlled access after the concrete has set, serving its protective function and then yielding to enable final assembly.
2Reliability
If the barrier is made permanent to prevent concrete ingress, then anchor integrity is maintained, but access to the support member is blocked after concrete setting
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is designed as a dynamic, reconfigurable element rather than a permanent structure. It transitions from a closed state during concrete pouring to an open state after setting, adapting its configuration to meet different operational requirements at different stages of the anchoring process.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier serves its protective function temporarily and is then discarded or removed after the concrete has set. This allows the support member to be accessed and installed without permanent obstruction, with the barrier being discarded after fulfilling its protective purpose.
3Productivity
If the form board is not checked for debris and imperfections, then the installation process is faster, but the anchor may not sit squarely leading to disorientation and concrete ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier provides a protective cushion against the harmful effects of debris and surface imperfections on the form board. Even if the form board is not thoroughly cleaned, the barrier prevents concrete from exploiting gaps or imperfections to reach the anchor point, cushioning against potential failure modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier converts the potential harm from form board imperfections into a non-issue by blocking the pathway for concrete ingress. What would normally be a critical defect (debris or imperfections allowing concrete entry) becomes irrelevant because the barrier prevents concrete from reaching the anchor point regardless of form board condition.
Data Source
AI summary
A base member for cooperating with a support member and at least one fixing member to form an anchor assembly mountable to a form board on which wet concrete may be poured during formation of a concrete substrate. The base member includes: a mounting portion for positioning the anchor assembly on the form board prior to inserting the fixing members into the form board; an aperture having first and second generally opposed ends, the first end being open to facilitate insertion of the support member into the aperture; and a barrier reconfigurable in use from a first configuration, in which the barrier restricts ingress of wet concrete into contact with the support member via the second end of the aperture, to a second configuration in which the barrier allows an object to extend via the second end of the aperture into contact with the support member.