Ground Spike With Varying Metal Thickness For Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ground spike designs require significant amounts of metal, leading to high production costs and potential premature deformations and failures under wear conditions, while existing installation methods like burying posts or using concrete are inefficient and unsatisfactory.
Innovation Solution
A ground spike design featuring a blade portion with reinforced blades and a socket portion with clamping tabs, made from varying metal thicknesses, where the blade portion is constructed from two pieces of metal bent and welded together, and the socket portion is formed with perpendicular walls and reinforcement lines for increased strength and drainage, allowing for efficient anchoring without digging or concrete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ground spikes are made with thicker metal to increase strength and durability, then reliability improves, but manufacturing cost increases and material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different metal thicknesses to different parts of the ground spike: the blade portion uses thinner metal (2.0-3.0mm) while the socket portion uses thicker metal (3.0-5.0mm). This local differentiation optimizes strength where needed (socket for post attachment) while reducing material usage where full strength is not required (blade for ground penetration), thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and material quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground spike combines metal of varying thicknesses in a single structure, creating a composite construction where each section is optimized for its specific function. The thinner blade section reduces material usage while the thicker socket section ensures structural reliability for post attachment, effectively balancing durability requirements with material efficiency.
2Quantity of substance
If ground spikes are made with thinner metal to reduce cost and material usage, then manufacturing cost decreases, but strength and durability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by specifying different thickness ranges for different functional sections: the blade portion (2.0-3.0mm) is optimized for ground penetration and uses less material, while the socket portion (3.0-5.0mm) is optimized for structural strength and post attachment. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring durability is maintained in critical areas while reducing overall material consumption.
3Reliability
If uniform thick metal is used throughout the ground spike to ensure strength, then reliability improves, but manufacturing cost and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating metal thickness between the blade portion (2.0-3.0mm) and socket portion (3.0-5.0mm). This allows the structure to have sufficient strength where required (socket for post attachment) while reducing manufacturing cost through optimized material usage in the blade section, effectively resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of metal thickness across different sections of the ground spike. By varying the thickness parameter from 2.0-3.0mm in the blade to 3.0-5.0mm in the socket, the design optimizes both structural strength and manufacturing cost, avoiding the need for uniform thick metal throughout the entire structure.
4Reliability
If conventional installation methods (burying posts or using concrete) are used, then post anchoring is achieved, but installation time and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ground spike is segmented into distinct functional portions: a blade portion for ground engagement and a socket portion for post attachment. This segmentation allows the product to be installed as a single pre-fabricated unit that combines the anchoring and post-mounting functions, eliminating the need for time-consuming concrete mixing and pouring operations while maintaining reliable post anchoring.
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 design provides a stronger, cost-effective ground spike that can be manufactured with less metal, reducing production costs and enhancing durability and stability, while eliminating the need for digging or concrete, ensuring secure post anchoring.
Implementation Method 1
The blade portion (21) and post socket portion (30) are typically made of the same metal material, often having a thickness of between 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm. Mills discloses use of steel having a thickness of one-eighth inch (3.2 mm).
Implementation Method 2
The two pieces of metal are then attached along the respective fold lines (23&24) by a welded connection (25).
Data Source
AI summary
A metal post support ground spike is disclosed having a post receiving socket, and a flat plate. The flat plate is welded to four walls of the post receiving socket. The post support may also comprise a blades portion welded to the flat plate. The blades portion, post receiving socket and flat plate may all have reinforcement lines stamped therein and may comprise metals of varying thickness and rigidity. The flat plate may comprise the thickest and most rigid metal, whereas the post receiving socket and/or the blades may be made from a thinner and/or less rigid metal.