Cast-In-Place Anchor Assembly With Flexing Deck Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cast-in-place anchor assemblies have numerous separate parts, making them time-consuming and expensive to manufacture, and they often fail to effectively support the anchor body during concrete curing.
Innovation Solution
A cast-in-place anchor assembly with a reduced number of parts, featuring a metal anchor body and a flexible anchor support with a central member, biasing portion, and stop member that flexes to securely position the anchor under the metal deck, preventing concrete flow and supporting the anchor during curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional multi-part anchor assemblies are used, then the anchor body can be supported during concrete curing, but the manufacturing process becomes time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (anchor body, support elements, sealing elements) into a single integrated cast-in-place anchor assembly. The support elements and sealing elements are formed as integral parts of the anchor body through a single casting process, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly steps while maintaining the structural support function during concrete curing.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor body is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support during concrete curing, creates sealing against concrete flow, and serves as the final anchor mounting structure. The integrated design allows a single component to fulfill roles that previously required multiple separate parts.
2Reliability
If conventional multi-part anchor assemblies are used, then the anchor body can be supported during concrete curing, but the number of separately manufactured parts increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple discrete parts into a single integrated anchor assembly. The support elements, sealing elements, and anchor body are formed as one unified structure through casting, reducing the number of separate manufactured parts while maintaining all necessary functional capabilities for supporting the anchor body during curing.
3Ease of operation
If the stop member flexes to pass through the metal deck opening, then the anchor can be installed, but the stop member must be larger than the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The stop member is designed with flexible properties that allow it to dynamically change its effective size. In its normal state, the stop member has a larger diameter than the deck opening to prevent concrete flow. During installation, the stop member can flex radially inward to a smaller diameter, allowing it to pass through the opening, then return to its larger diameter position to perform its sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop member's dimensional parameters are made variable through its flexible construction. The member can transition between two states: a larger diameter state for sealing against concrete flow, and a smaller diameter state for passing through the deck opening during installation. This parameter change capability resolves the contradiction between size and installability.
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 solution reduces manufacturing complexity and costs while ensuring effective load transfer and concrete sealing, maintaining the anchor's integrity during concrete curing.
Implementation Method 1
the biasing portion is disposed on the first upper side of the metal decking and flexes against that decking upper side (transferring load to the stop member directly via the central member) to exert an upward biasing force by the stop member onto the second lower side of the metal to sealingly cover the opening in the decking
Implementation Method 2
the stop member may flex to pass through the opening in the metal deck and may be disposed on a second lower side of the decking member. Likewise and similarly, the stop member may flex to exert a force (via the central member) on the biasing portion to contact the upper metal deck side to seal the deck opening from concrete flow
Data Source
AI summary
A cast-in-place anchor assembly is disclosed for suspending objects below a metal deck. The assembly includes an anchor body and an anchor support. The anchor body includes a threaded opening. The anchor support includes a central member which, in use, extends from a first upper side of the metal deck to a second lower side of the metal deck. The central member further includes a connector. The central member also includes a biasing portion which cantilevers radially outward. The central member further includes a stopping member sized to be larger than a deck opening. An end of the anchor body is connected to a connector to conceal the threaded opening from poured concrete. The stop member flexes to pass through the opening in the metal deck and the stop member and the biasing member flexingly bias the anchor support into position relative to the metal decking.