Armoured Joint Wave Plates for Concrete Panel Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing edge protection systems for concrete flooring components are expensive, prone to incorrect installation, and fail to adequately prevent movement of one concrete panel relative to a neighboring panel, especially when subjected to materials handling equipment with small hard wheels carrying high loads.

Innovation Solution

A joint edge protection apparatus with anchorage parts and movable plates featuring wave-shaped abutment surfaces that allow for a fully bridged gap, preventing debris entry and facilitating load transfer, while using angled lacer bars and anti-skew stake brackets for enhanced support and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing edge protection systems are used, then edge protection is provided, but the systems are expensive and may be over-engineered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveedge protection effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The edge protection system is divided into modular components including individual wave plates with integrated anchorage parts, allowing selective placement and easier installation while maintaining protection effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The anchorage parts are extracted and integrated directly into the wave plate structure, eliminating the need for separate anchorage components and reducing overall system complexity and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If existing edge protection systems are used, then edge protection is provided, but they are subject to incorrect installation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveedge protection effectivenessVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The anchorage part and wave plate are merged into a single integrated component, ensuring correct installation by eliminating the possibility of separate component misalignment or improper assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The anchorage part is pre-formed as an integral part of the wave plate during manufacturing, so that installation only requires placing the complete assembly into the joint gap without separate anchoring steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If existing edge protection systems are used, then edge protection is provided, but they may not adequately prevent movement of one concrete panel relative to a neighbouring panel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanel stabilityVSAvoidload transfer capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The wave-shaped configuration of the plates provides curved surfaces that interlock between panels, mechanically preventing relative movement while distributing loads across the joint interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines concrete panels with integrated steel or reinforcement wave plates having anchorage parts, creating a composite structure that leverages the compressive strength of concrete and the tensile strength of the reinforcement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Adaptability or versatility

If a joint gap is allowed between concrete panels, then thermal expansion and contraction are accommodated, but debris can enter the joint

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal movement accommodationVSAvoiddebris contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wave-shaped plates act as flexible barriers that span the joint gap, allowing thermal movement while blocking debris entry through their continuous wavy configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The curved wave configuration creates an interlocking pattern that prevents debris from penetrating into the joint while maintaining the gap necessary for thermal expansion and contraction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS12398571B2Armoured joint—anti-skew stake bracket

Publication Date: 2025.08.26 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC

AI summary

An armoured joint for protecting an edge of a first component formed of settable material and an edge of a second component formed of settable material at a joint, wherein the apparatus includes a first anchorage part for anchoring to the first component and a second anchorage part for anchoring to the second component, a first plate coupled to the first anchorage part, a second plate coupled to the second anchorage part, the first plate defining a first edge, the second plate defining a second edge, wherein the first edge and the second edge are shaped to facilitate bringing together of the first edge and the second edge, and wherein the second anchorage part is adapted to be movable relative to the first anchorage part from a close configuration in which the second edge is brought together with the first edge to a spaced configuration in which the second edge is spaced relative to the first edge, wherein the first anchorage part or the second anchorage part has a support section, the armoured joint including a bracket for supporting the armoured joint relative to a ground surface, the bracket comprising an angled upper leg and an angled lower leg, wherein the bracket is fixed to the support section by the angled upper leg and the angled lower leg, the angled upper leg being fixed to the support section to extend downwardly from the support section at a first angle and the angled lower leg being fixed to the support section to extend upwardly from the support section at a second angle of the same magnitude as the first angle.