Cast-In-Place Anchor Assembly for Upright Deck Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cast-in-place anchor assemblies for metal decks struggle to securely suspend objects below metal decks during and after concrete pouring, as they fail to effectively clamp the deck and prevent misalignment due to tilting or deformation.
Innovation Solution
A cast-in-place anchor assembly featuring a flexible sleeve with elastically deformable fingers, a support with a reinforcing channel that restricts tilting, and a spring to clamp the metal deck, ensuring secure anchoring and upright orientation of the anchor body during concrete setting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid sleeve is used for insertion through metal deck holes, then structural strength is improved, but the sleeve cannot pass through narrower holes and cannot accommodate deck deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic structure with flexible portions that can deform elastically. The flexible portions allow the sleeve to adapt to variations in hole size and deck deformation while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between strength and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve incorporates flexible portions made of elastomeric material that can elastically deform to pass through narrower holes and accommodate deck movement. This flexible shell design maintains sufficient strength while providing the necessary adaptability to different hole sizes and deck conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sleeve is made flexible to pass through narrower holes, then adaptability is improved, but the sleeve may deform excessively and lose structural integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is designed with dynamic flexibility that allows controlled elastic deformation during insertion while maintaining structural integrity. The flexible portions can deform to pass through narrower holes but return to their original shape, preventing permanent deformation and loss of strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the sleeve are optimized to achieve the right balance between flexibility and strength. By selecting appropriate elastomeric materials and controlling their physical parameters (such as durometer hardness), the sleeve can deform sufficiently for insertion while maintaining the structural integrity needed to perform its clamping function.
3Ease of operation
If the anchor assembly allows free movement during concrete pouring, then ease of installation is improved, but misalignment and tilting occur during setting
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is pre-configured with the anchor body and spring assembly before concrete pouring. This preliminary arrangement ensures that once installed, the spring automatically biases the support to maintain precise alignment during concrete setting, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures while preventing misalignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded support mechanism provides continuous feedback force to maintain anchor alignment during concrete pouring and setting. As the concrete cures and exerts pressure, the spring adjusts the support position to counteract any tilting or misalignment, ensuring precision is maintained throughout the process.
4Ease of manufacture
If the support structure is simplified for easy assembly, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the support cannot effectively restrict tilting movement
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into modular components (support body, spring assembly, connection features) that can be easily manufactured and assembled. Despite this simplicity, the geometric configuration of the supporting channel and connection features effectively restricts tilting movement while maintaining ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure incorporates localized geometric features (such as the shape of the supporting channel and connection interfaces) that provide tilting restriction functionality without requiring complex overall structure. These local quality enhancements enable reliable tilting prevention while keeping the overall design simple and easy to manufacture.
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
The anchor assembly securely clamps the metal deck, preventing misalignment and ensuring the anchor body remains upright, allowing for reliable suspension of loads after concrete setting.
Implementation Method 1
a spring for biasing the support along the anchor body towards the sleeve
Implementation Method 2
a flexible portion that is configured to elastically flex upon insertion of the sleeve through a hole in a metal deck that is narrower than the width of the flexible portion
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A cast-in-place anchor assembly for suspending objects below a metal deck after concrete pouring and concrete setting, the anchor assembly comprising: an anchor body having a threaded opening extending partially through it along an axis; a sleeve mounted to the anchor body and defining a sleeve opening which extends away from the anchor body along said axis, the sleeve also having a flexible portion that is configured to elastically flex upon insertion of the sleeve through a hole in a metal deck that is narrower than the width of the flexible portion; a support defining a supporting channel through which the anchor body extends and that is configured to permit sliding movement, but restrict tilting movement, of the support relative to the anchor body; and a spring for biasing the support along the anchor body towards the sleeve so that, in use, opposite sides of a metal deck are clamped between the support and the flexible portion of the sleeve.