Groove and Spring Connection Fitting for Timber Beam Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connecting fittings for flat surfaces in building construction, such as those used to anchor timber beams, face challenges in accommodating varying heights and ensuring precise, easy assembly with sufficient static load capacity, often requiring multiple fittings and complex positioning.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a groove and tongue fitting with overhanging flank surfaces and a parallel screw channel, allowing for weight distribution across the entire height of the connection and enabling easy assembly with adjustable numbers of fitting members, using self-cutting threaded bolts to secure the connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple small pairs of fittings are used to connect beams of varying heights, then the connection can accommodate different heights, but the number of fittings increases and positioning accuracy becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The connection fitting is divided into two separate profile parts (first and second profile parts), each with hook-shaped profile walls that can be independently anchored to components. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for specific functions while working together to achieve versatile height adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook-shaped profile walls extend in the longitudinal direction, creating a three-dimensional interlocking structure. The screw channel runs parallel to the profile direction, adding another dimensional element for load distribution. This multi-dimensional design enables a single fitting pair to accommodate various heights without requiring multiple fittings.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple small pairs of fittings are used, then height variation is accommodated, but the effective connection surface is reduced and assembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The two profile parts are merged through the screw channel that runs parallel to the profile direction, creating a unified connection system. The screw engages both profile parts simultaneously, distributing loads across the entire height of the connection rather than at discrete points. This merging simplifies assembly by reducing the number of separate operations required.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection fitting is designed as a universal solution that can connect components of various heights through the adjustable positioning of the profile parts. The hook-shaped profile walls and parallel screw channel configuration allow the same fitting design to be used across different applications, improving ease of operation through standardization.
3Ease of manufacture
If a screw runs through the profile parts normal to the profile direction, then the profile parts are anchored to components, but the static load capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The screw channel runs parallel to the profile direction rather than normal to it, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the hook-shaped profile walls. This orientation allows the screw to engage both profile parts along their length, distributing the load across a larger surface area and significantly increasing the static load capacity while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
4Ease of operation
If the groove and projection design is used, then assembly is simplified, but the connection is limited to precisely determined cross-sectional heights
Solution Approach 1:
The connection fitting design allows for dynamic adjustment to different heights through the configurable positioning of the two profile parts. The hook-shaped profile walls can be anchored at various positions, and the parallel screw channel accommodates different lengths, enabling the connection to adapt to different cross-sectional heights while maintaining simplified assembly through the interlocking profile design.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a connecting fitting (3) for connecting two components (1, 2) at two mutually facing flat connecting surfaces, wherein the connecting fitting (3) comprises a groove fitting (4) and a complementary spring fitting (5). Parallel to the longitudinal direction of the groove (8) and spring (9), a screw channel (10) extends in the groove fitting (4) and the spring fitting (5), the outer surface of which is formed by both a surface area of the groove fitting (4) and a surface area of the spring fitting (5), the boundary lines between these two surface areas running parallel to the longitudinal direction of the screw channel (10), and wherein a threaded bolt (11) is screwed into the screw channel (10), which engages in threads with both the groove fitting (4) and the spring fitting (5).