Expansion Anchor Sleeve Orientation for Structural Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of expansion anchor devices in structural support members, such as railroad ties, is prone to failure due to random placement of the sleeve within the hole, leading to uneven compression resistance and potential rupture, especially when the half-sleeves expand in a lower-resistance direction, causing cracks and loosening of the anchoring force.
Innovation Solution
A process for orienting the sleeve within the hole to ensure radial expansion occurs in the highest-resistance direction of the structural support member, using an apparatus with a cylindrical bushing and lever to align the half-sleeves with the maximum-resistance direction, and a preloading bolt to secure the orientation before full expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sleeve is placed randomly within the hole, then the installation process is simple and quick, but the anchor device may expand in a lower-resistance direction causing rupture and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing a positioning element that pre-orientates the sleeve before expansion occurs. This positioning element ensures the sleeve is correctly aligned with the maximum resistance direction of the structural member prior to the expansion process, preventing random placement issues while maintaining installation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary positioning element as a mediator between the sleeve and the hole. This positioning element temporarily holds the sleeve in the correct orientation during installation, ensuring proper alignment with the structural member's maximum resistance direction before the anchor device is fully installed.
2Productivity
If the half-sleeves expand in a lower-resistance direction, then the installation process is faster, but cracks and fractures form causing loosening of the anchoring force
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning element performs preliminary orientation of the sleeve to align with the maximum resistance direction before expansion. This prevents cracks and fractures by ensuring expansion occurs in the structurally sound direction, maintaining both installation speed and anchoring strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning element provides preliminary anti-action by counteracting the tendency of the sleeve to expand in incorrect directions. It pre-establishes the correct orientation that prevents the harmful effect of cracking and loosening before expansion begins.
3Device complexity
If the sleeve orientation is not controlled, then the installation process requires fewer steps, but the expansion direction cannot be ensured to match the maximum-resistance direction
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning element serves as an intermediary device that simplifies the orientation process. It mechanically guides the sleeve into the correct alignment with the maximum resistance direction, achieving precise expansion direction control without requiring complex installation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning element enables self-alignment of the sleeve through its mechanical design. The element's geometry or positioning features automatically guide the sleeve into the correct orientation during installation, achieving precise expansion direction control without requiring complex external alignment procedures.
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
This method reduces the risk of failure by ensuring the anchor device expands in the direction of highest resistance, providing stable and secure anchoring, preventing cracks and fractures, and maintaining the orientation of the half-sleeves during expansion.
Implementation Method 1
The contour of the expansion body is such that it enables the expansion body to be axially displaced along the flat sliding surfaces of the cavity of the sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a process for installation of an expansion anchor device, which is used to secure a part to the surface of a structural support member. The anchor device comprises an expandable sleeve (1), mainly extending along a longitudinal axis (X-X) with a proximal end (2) and a distal end (3), which is designed to be placed within a hole formed in the structural member that is designed to have the anchor applied thereto. In the process, once the hole has been formed in the support member and said anchor device has been placed in the hole, a step of orienting the sleeve (1) is carried out, such that the expansion of the latter occurs along the highest-resistance direction of the structural support member. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the process, which comprises a cylindrical bushing (26) having an axial through hole (27), front coupling means (28) located at the end (29) of the bushing facing the sleeve (1) of the anchor device, said means (28) being adapted for engagement with front counter-coupling means (30) placed on the proximal end (2) of the sleeve (1) of the anchor device as well as a handle (31) connected to said bushing (26).