Formwork Anchor Body Flow Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stop bodies for formwork elements often fail to adequately fill the narrow gaps between their peripheral walls and the formwork walls with liquid concrete, leading to inefficient concrete placement.

Innovation Solution

The stop body design includes a support foot with stiffening ribs that deviate from the center of gravity, a base element forming a half-channel with support feet, and stabilizing elements with recesses to create a flow channel for liquid concrete, ensuring better filling and integration with the concrete volume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a stop body with a cylindrical peripheral wall is used, then the formwork wall can be easily positioned and aligned, but the narrow gaps between the peripheral wall and formwork wall are insufficiently filled with liquid concrete

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning and alignmentVSAvoidliquid concrete filling
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces flow channels that extend in the vertical dimension from the base element upward toward the peripheral wall, allowing liquid concrete to access the gap between the stop body and formwork wall from below rather than only from the sides. This dimensional change in concrete flow path enables complete filling of the previously inaccessible narrow gaps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The base element with its flow channels acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the liquid concrete and the narrow gap between the stop body and formwork wall. The flow channels serve as conduits that guide the concrete into the gap, solving the filling problem without changing the cylindrical peripheral wall design that provides easy positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the stop body is made with a simple base and cylindrical peripheral wall, then the structure is simple, but the stability and integration with concrete volume is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidstability and integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The stop body is segmented into distinct functional elements: a base element with flow channels, a cylindrical peripheral wall, and stabilizing elements protruding from the base. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall structural simplicity. The base element handles concrete flow, the peripheral wall provides positioning, and the stabilizing elements ensure stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flow channels are nested within the base element structure, with the channels formed as cavities or passages inside the base rather than as separate external components. This nesting maintains structural simplicity while providing the complex function of guided concrete flow to improve stability and integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Quantity of substance

If stabilizing elements are added to protrude from the base element, then the filling of liquid concrete is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid concrete fillingVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing elements that protrude from the base element serve multiple functions: they provide structural stability to prevent tipping, create additional pathways for liquid concrete flow, and increase the surface area for concrete adhesion. This multi-functionality allows the structure to improve concrete filling without requiring separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2284331B1End stop body
Publication Date: 2015.09.23 HILTI AG
  • EP2284331B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

Anchor body comprising a stop for attaching a formwork element to the anchor body, a support for attaching a fastening element, a bearing for attaching the anchor body to a substrate, and a support foot for supporting the anchor body on the substrate, wherein the support foot has a stiffening rib.