Asymmetric Block Anchoring for Secure Bore Wall Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional expandable anchoring devices fail to achieve a secure engagement with the bore wall due to surface-to-surface friction, lacking additional fixing mechanisms, which limits their ability to be securely fixed.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an outer tube base with tapered blocks that expand outward, where the side closer to the proximal end protrudes more than the side closer to the distal end, allowing for a tighter engagement with the bore wall by changing the abutment from the columnar to the tapered portion, enhancing the anchoring effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the outer plugs are moved radially to abut against the bore wall in a surface-to-surface manner, then the expansion bolt can be fixed in the bore, but the friction generated is insufficient to achieve tight engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The block is designed with asymmetric geometry where one side has a greater width than the other side. When the expanding member pushes the block outward, the wider side protrudes more beyond the tube body opening, creating a wedge-shaped engagement with the bore wall. This asymmetric configuration increases the contact area and mechanical interlocking effect, transforming the simple surface-to-surface friction into a more reliable wedge-like mechanical engagement that prevents the expansion bolt from loosening.
2Device complexity
If only surface-to-surface friction is used for fixing, then the structure remains simple, but the anchoring effect is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The block incorporates a localized geometric feature where one side width is deliberately made greater than the other side width. This local quality change creates a protruding portion that specifically engages with the bore wall to provide enhanced mechanical interlocking. The rest of the block maintains a simple structure, so the overall device complexity remains low while achieving significantly improved anchoring reliability through this localized geometric modification.
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 configuration ensures a more secure fixation of the expandable anchoring device by increasing the surface area engagement with the bore wall, preventing the device from being easily dislodged, thereby providing a better anchoring effect.
Implementation Method 1
an expanding member (30) passes through the axial hole (14); when the expanding member (30) drives blocks (20) on a periphery of the expanding member (30) to expand and move outward
Implementation Method 2
a side of each of the plurality of blocks (20) facing the proximal end (P) protrudes out of one of the plurality of openings (16) more than another side of each of the plurality of blocks (20) facing the distal end (F), so that the blocks (20) are tightly engaged with a hole wall of an anchor hole
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable anchoring device includes several openings around a periphery of a tube body. Two opposite ends of the tube body along an axial direction are respectively defined a distal end and a proximal end. Several blocks respectively pass through one of the openings. A length of a distal end side wall of each block along a radial direction is smaller than a length of a proximal end side wall of each block along the radial direction. An expanding member having a tapered portion and a columnar portion is disposed in the tube body and abuts against an inner surface of each block through a columnar surface, hence a side of an outer surface of each block facing the proximal end protrude out of each opening more than another side of the outer surface of each block. A pulling member connected to the expanding member passes through the tube body.