Concrete Casting Magnet Housing for Clean Release Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The magnetic units used in concrete casting become dirty and lose magnetic coupling force due to contact with liquid concrete, leading to increased cleaning time and risk of loss during the casting process.

Innovation Solution

An installation device with a first cavity enclosing the magnetic unit, surrounded by air layers, prevents ingress of liquid concrete and maintains magnetic coupling by using a magnet holding member to releasably hold the magnetic unit in position, allowing easy retrieval post-casting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the magnetic unit is directly exposed during concrete casting, then the installation component can be easily positioned, but the magnetic unit becomes contaminated with liquid concrete and loses magnetic coupling force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning of installation componentVSAvoidcontamination of magnetic unit
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into two functional parts: a protective housing that encloses the magnetic unit and prevents contamination, and a contact surface that interfaces with the casting mold. This segmentation allows the magnetic unit to remain protected while still achieving positioning functionality through the housing's contact surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing acts as an intermediary between the magnetic unit and the liquid concrete environment. It transmits the positioning function to the mold through its contact surface while blocking harmful concrete from reaching the magnetic unit, thus mediating between operational needs and protection requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the magnetic unit is enclosed in a housing, then contamination is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidstructure of installation device
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing combines multiple functions into a single component: it protects the magnetic unit from contamination, provides a contact surface for positioning, and maintains structural integrity during casting. This merging reduces overall device complexity compared to having separate protective and positioning components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is designed as a simple shell structure that encloses the magnetic unit with minimal material and complexity. This thin-walled protective enclosure provides adequate protection while maintaining ease of manufacture and low structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If liquid concrete enters between the magnetic unit and casting mold, then magnetic coupling force is reduced, but the magnetic unit may be lost during removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic coupling stabilityVSAvoidloss of magnetic unit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic unit is extracted from direct contact with the concrete environment and placed inside the protective housing. This extraction eliminates the risk of concrete ingress between the magnetic unit and mold, maintaining reliable magnetic coupling while preventing loss during removal operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If the magnetic unit is made reusable, then cost efficiency improves, but cleaning time increases due to concrete contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereusability of magnetic unitVSAvoidcleaning time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The protective housing is provided in advance to prevent contamination before it occurs. By taking the preventive action of enclosing the magnetic unit prior to casting, the need for subsequent cleaning operations is eliminated, maintaining reusability without time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Reduces magnetic unit contamination and maintains magnetic coupling force, enhancing reusability and ease of retrieval, thus reducing cleaning time and loss.

Implementation Method 1

The magnetic coupling is achieved via a magnetic unit that is connected to the installation component on the one hand and with a ferromagnetic part of the casting mold on the other hand

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP4501567B1Installation device to be accommodated in a concrete component
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 ATTEMA BV
  • EP4501567B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4501567B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1C
  • EP4501567B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4

AI summary

An installation device (1) to be accommodated in a concrete component, in particular a concrete wall, to be cast, the installation device being configured to releasably hold a magnetic unit (4), the magnetic unit comprising a permanent magnet (5) having a magnet contact surface (6) being configured to magnetically connect to a ferromagnetic part (7) of a casting mold (8), the installation device (1) comprising a main body (9) comprising a first cavity (10) configured for accommodating the magnetic unit (4) in an inner space (11) of the first cavity (10), wherein the first cavity (10) extends inwards from a first cavity opening (12) at a contacting plane (13), the first cavity opening (12) being configured to allow the magnetic unit (4) to be inserted into, and removed from, the first cavity (10); a first mold contact surface (14) extending around the first cavity opening (12); a magnet holding member (15) configured to releasably hold the magnetic unit (4) within the first cavity (10), wherein, when the installation device (1) is magnetically connected to a casting mold (8) via the magnet contact surface (6), the first mold contact surface contacts an inner surface of the casting mold whereby the inner surface closes the first cavity opening (12) and the first cavity (10).