Concrete Slab Pipe Bracket With Protected Connection Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Embedded tubes and their contents in concrete floors are often damaged during construction, leading to connectivity issues and increased costs due to the need for concrete removal to access undamaged portions, which can crack or weaken the floor.
Innovation Solution
A bracket system that supports tubes and their contents within a concrete slab, featuring a base, housing, and cap design, where the tube is curved and cut to fit inside the housing, allowing connections to be made after the concrete hardens without damaging the tube or weakening the concrete surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tube extends above the concrete surface to allow connections, then connectivity is enabled, but the tube is damaged by construction equipment and workers
Solution Approach 1:
The tube end is enclosed within a protective housing that is embedded in the concrete. The housing contains the tube end and provides a protected interior space where connections can be made without exposing the tube to external damage from construction equipment and workers.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing acts as an intermediary structure between the concrete and the tube end. It provides a protected interface that allows connections to be made while shielding the tube from harmful external factors during construction.
2Ease of operation
If concrete is removed to access undamaged tube portions, then connections can be established, but the concrete floor is weakened and may crack
Solution Approach 1:
The tube end is pre-positioned and protected within the housing before the concrete is poured. This preliminary protection eliminates the need for later concrete removal to access the tube, thereby preserving the integrity and strength of the concrete floor.
Solution Approach 2:
The problematic requirement to remove concrete is extracted and eliminated by providing alternative access through the removable cap on the housing. Connections are made through the cap opening rather than by removing surrounding concrete.
3Ease of operation
If the housing is made large enough to allow access for connections, then connectivity is facilitated, but the concrete surface is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The housing provides localized protection and access space exactly where needed - at the tube end within the concrete. The housing dimensions are optimized to provide sufficient interior space for connections while keeping the overall housing size small enough to minimize impact on concrete strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A bracket holds a rigid or flexible tube during the pouring of a concrete slab. The bracket has a base and a housing connected to the base. The tube curves around a first tube support on the housing before passing through an opening in the bottom of the housing. The tube and any members inside the tube are cut off so they end inside the housing and are then covered by a housing cap. The base is fastened to a form for the concrete slab. The height of the housing relative to the base is adjusted to place the cap at the planned surface of the concrete slab. After the concrete slab is formed the cap is removed and the cut members inside the housing are connected to other members or devices.