Hexagonal Anchor Head for Powered Tie Down Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manually placing tie down stakes and earth anchors into the ground can be difficult and time-consuming, especially in varying soil conditions, as they require manual turning of the anchors.
Innovation Solution
An anchor head with a hexagonal top and bottom section, featuring a central annular shoulder and a threaded axial bore, allows for attachment to the anchor shaft using a power drill/driver and hex sockets, and is permanently secured via a swage bore for easy installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual turning of anchors is used, then no special tools are needed, but installation is difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor head serves as an intermediary component between the power tool and the anchor shaft. It has a hexagonal interface that accepts standard power tool sockets, allowing mechanical power to be transmitted to the spiral anchor shaft for automated driving into the ground, thereby resolving the contradiction between installation speed and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the manual mechanical turning system with a powered mechanical system. By providing a hexagonal drive interface on the anchor head, power tools can be connected to automatically rotate and drive the anchor into the ground, eliminating the need for manual handling while dramatically increasing installation productivity
2Reliability
If anchor head is permanently secured to shaft, then connection is secure, but removal and reuse becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor head employs a dynamic fastening system with a swageable shaft and removable set screw. The set screw can be tightened to permanently secure the head to the shaft for reliable operation, or loosened to allow removal and reuse of the anchor assembly, thus resolving the contradiction between connection security and ease of repair
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening mechanism allows changing the connection parameter from loose to secure by tightening the set screw. This parameter change enables the same connection to provide both permanent security during operation and easy removal when needed, addressing the contradiction between reliability and ease of repair
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 efficient and rapid placement and removal of anchors using conventional power tools, eliminating the need for manual handling and reducing installation time, while providing a cost-effective and secure attachment method.
Implementation Method 1
a lateral 'swage' bore through which a punch is inserted to swage or deform the threads of the shaft to permanently secure the anchor head to the shaft
Data Source
AI summary
An anchor head mounted to or incorporated into the shaft of conventional tie down stakes and earth anchors. The anchor head eliminates the need to manually drive the earth anchor into the ground and allows the anchor to be placed and removed using conventional powered drill/drivers and hex sockets or wrenches. The anchor head has a hexagonal top section and a hexagonal bottom sectional separated by an integral, central annular shoulder. The top and bottom sections are each configured to have six equilateral side walls and dimensioned to receive two different sizes of wrench or hex socket. The bottom section of the anchor head has a threaded axial bore for receiving the threaded end of the anchor shaft. The bottom section also has a lateral “swage” bore through which a punch is inserted to swage or deform the threads of the shaft to permanently secure the anchor head to the shaft.