Formwork Locking Member Tapered Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing building formwork apparatuses suffer from misalignment and uneven mold surfaces due to reliance on connecting hornbeam blocks for positioning, leading to suboptimal assembly.

Innovation Solution

A building formwork apparatus featuring a locking member with a rotatable axis, comprising a driven portion, shoulder, positioning portion with tapered sections, and threaded portion, which allows for precise alignment and secure connection of formwork components through positioning and locking holes, ensuring flush assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If connecting hornbeam block is used for positioning formworks, then assembly is simplified, but positioning precision deteriorates causing misalignment and uneven mold surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning function is segmented from the connecting hornbeam block and assigned to a dedicated positioning component integrated into the formwork. This separation allows the connecting block to focus on assembly simplicity while the positioning component ensures precision through its specialized tapered structure and dedicated positioning holes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning component acts as an intermediary between the formwork and the connecting hornbeam block. It provides precise positioning through its tapered sections that fit into positioning holes, while the connecting block provides the mechanical connection, thus mediating between precision requirements and assembly simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If multiple fasteners are used to fix formworks and connecting hornbeam block, then connection strength is improved, but assembly time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning component performs preliminary positioning action before the final fastening with the connecting hornbeam block. The tapered positioning sections are inserted into positioning holes to establish precise alignment and stability, so that when fasteners are applied, the formworks are already correctly positioned, reducing adjustment time and ensuring connection strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If formworks are tightly abutted against each other, then structural stability is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates causing uneven mold surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning component utilizes parameter changes in its tapered sections, where the cross-sectional area varies along the length to create a wedge effect. This geometric parameter change allows the component to maintain tight structural connection while simultaneously ensuring precise alignment through the controlled taper ratio, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 ensures accurate alignment and stability during assembly, resulting in flush mold surfaces and improved assembly precision, addressing the misalignment issues of prior art.

Implementation Method 1

the first tapered section of the locking member is retained in the positioning hole to restrict the locking member to rotate about the axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGeometric constraint:

Implementation Method 2

The locking hole is adjacent to the positioning hole and is configured to receive a threaded portion and a second tapered section of a locking member of the another building formwork apparatus. The internally threaded section of the locking hole is configured to engage with the threaded portion of the another building formwork apparatus.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThread engagement:

Implementation Method 3

The locking member extends along and is rotatable about an axis, and includes a driven portion, a shoulder formed on one end of the driven portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Data Source

PatentEP4155482B1Building formwork apparatus having locking member
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 WANG CHIEN-HO
  • EP4155482B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4155482B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4155482B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A building formwork apparatus (100) includes a building formwork (2) having a frame (22) with a positioning hole (221) and a locking hole (222), and a locking member (1, 1') including a first tapered section (131), a second tapered section (132) connected to the first tapered section (131), and a threaded portion (14) connected to the second tapered section (132). The positioning hole (221) is configured to receive insertion of the locking member (1, 1') therethrough such that the first tapered section (131) is retained therein and the second tapered section (132) is exposed therefrom for connection with another building formwork apparatus (100). The locking hole (222) is configured to receive a threaded portion (14) and a second tapered section (132) of a locking member (1, 1') of the another building formwork apparatus (100) .