Ground Anchor Cap Closure Mechanism for Corrosion Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ground and rock anchors face challenges in corrosion protection and maintenance, particularly at the anchor head, where protective paint often covers screw heads, making removal of caps during maintenance or repair cumbersome and prone to misuse.
Innovation Solution
A closure component is integrated into the anchor head design, allowing the cap to be securely attached from within, using a connecting element that interacts with the cap's inner circumference, providing a quick and secure attachment mechanism that is not visible externally, thus preventing unauthorized removal and maintaining corrosion protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap is fastened to the anchor plate using screws from the outside, then the cap can be securely attached, but the screw heads become inaccessible when protective paint is applied, making removal difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional fastening approach by moving the closure component from the outer surface to the inner circumference of the cap. Instead of screws protruding outward from the anchor plate, the closure component is now located inside the cap's cavity, engaging with the inner circumference. This inversion makes the fastening mechanism accessible from the inside rather than the outside, eliminating the problem of paint covering screw heads while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure component is nested within the cap's cavity, with the first closure component on the connecting element engaging with the second closure component on the inner circumference of the cap. This nesting arrangement allows the fastening mechanism to be contained within the cap structure itself, protecting it from external damage and making it inaccessible to paint application while still providing secure fastening.
2Ease of operation
If the cap is made easily removable for maintenance, then maintenance work becomes simpler, but the anchor head becomes vulnerable to unauthorized removal and misuse
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the fastening mechanism to engage from the inside rather than the outside, the patent creates a design that is inherently more secure. The closure component engages with the inner circumference of the cap, requiring access to the interior cavity for removal. This prevents casual or unauthorized removal while still allowing authorized maintenance personnel to remove the cap when needed, thus balancing security with maintenance accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element acts as an intermediary between the anchor plate and the cap, with its outer circumference providing the first closure component that engages with the cap's inner circumference. This intermediary structure mediates between the need for secure attachment and easy maintenance, creating a fastening system that is both secure and accessible to authorized personnel.
3Ease of operation
If the closure component is visible from outside, then installation and monitoring are simpler, but the anchor head appearance is compromised and security is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The closure component is nested within the cap's cavity, with the first closure component on the connecting element engaging with the second closure component on the inner circumference. This nesting arrangement conceals the fastening mechanism within the cap structure, protecting it from external view and damage. The closure mechanism remains functional while being hidden from external observation, thus maintaining both security and aesthetics.
Solution Approach 2:
By inverting the fastening mechanism to engage from the inside rather than the outside, the patent makes the closure component invisible from the external view. The first closure component on the connecting element engages with the second closure component on the inner circumference of the cap, creating a hidden fastening system that maintains both security and aesthetic appearance while remaining fully functional.
Data Source
AI summary
A ground anchor or rock anchor is provided that includes an anchor tension member composed of one or more individual elements, such as steel bars, steel wires, or steel wire strands. While the anchor tension member is intended to be introduced into a drilled hole and anchored there, the anchoring of the anchor tension member at the exposed end of the drilled hole is achieved with the aid of anchor head. To this end, the anchor head comprises a support element to bear directly or indirectly against the underlying rock or substratum, and an anchoring component for tensioning the individual elements, which can be brought into a frictional connection with the individual elements while bearing against the support element. In addition, a cap, which extends around the anchoring component and the ends of the individual elements, protects the exposed end of the anchor head. For secure attachment of the cap to the rest of the anchor head, between the support element and anchoring component, a connecting element is arranged that has a first closure component at its circumferential side, and has a second closure component of complementary shape on its circumferential side, wherein the first and second closure component work together to produce a frictional connection between the cap and connecting element.