Box Retainer Dovetail Profiling for Concrete Shear

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing box-like storage elements for concrete reinforcement are complex and costly to produce, requiring intricate profiling and bending processes that can lead to bulging and inefficiencies in manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A box-like storage element with a dovetail profiling design that simplifies bending and flattening during production, allowing for easier manufacturing and improved structural integrity through reduced effort in bending transitions and the use of a one-piece profiled steel sheet with cutouts to prevent bulging, and a closure system using a belt-like holding element for sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a box-like storage element is made from multiple separate components (bottom, side parts) connected by welding or gluing, then the storage element can be assembled, but the production process becomes complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate components (bottom and side parts) into a single one-piece profiled steel sheet structure. The box-like storage element is formed from one continuous piece of profiled material, eliminating the need for welding or gluing operations and reducing component count while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces transverse profiling (dovetail-shaped cross-sections) into the steel sheet that allows the material to be segmented into functional zones (bottom and side walls) while remaining a single continuous piece. The profiling creates natural separation lines that guide bending without requiring additional components or assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If profiled steel sheet is bent to form storage element, then the storage element can be produced, but bulging occurs at bending lines reducing manufacturing quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending processVSAvoidsurface smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different structural characteristics to different regions of the steel sheet. The transverse profiling is strategically positioned and designed with varying dimensions - with flattened portions at bending locations and raised portions in other areas. This local variation in profile geometry allows the material to bend smoothly without bulging while maintaining structural rigidity in non-bending areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If profiling is added to steel sheet for structural integrity, then shear force transfer improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshear force transferVSAvoidprofiling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric dovetail-shaped profiling with specific geometric characteristics - the profile sections have different heights and widths, with flattened portions at critical bending locations and raised portions elsewhere. This asymmetric design provides optimized structural performance for shear force transfer while simplifying the manufacturing process compared to symmetric or more complex profiling patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP2024586B1Box-shaped retainer for reinforcing rods
Publication Date: 2011.06.29 MAX FRANK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2024586B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2024586B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP2024586B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a box-type flashing element (4) for joint reinforcements for the connection of concrete parts by means of shear engagement. Said flashing element (4) has at least one inner compartment which is defined by two lateral regions (5) extending in the longitudinal direction of the flashing element, and a bottom (6) which also extends in the longitudinal direction of the flashing element. The bottom and/or the lateral regions is/are provided with a profiled section (2, 3) extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (L) of the flashing element, and the flashing element, with its lateral regions (5, 5a) and its bottom (6), is produced as a single component from a flat material comprising the profiled section (2, 3), preferably by performing a bending operation perpendicularly or vertically in relation to said profiled section (2, 3).