Impact Sand Anchor Cantilever Beams Wedging Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sand anchors are difficult for individuals with limited strength or endurance to install, as they require significant manual effort or digging, and they offer inadequate resistance to wind-induced pull-out and blow-over forces, posing safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

The impact sand anchor features a plurality of cantilever beams that pivot radially when driven into the sand, creating a wedging effect for enhanced stability, with a cylindrical hammer and limiter mechanisms to facilitate easy installation and prevent over-deformation, allowing for quick and secure anchoring of beach umbrellas or other objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional sand anchors (plate-type, thread-type, auger-type) are used, then anchoring strength is improved, but installation difficulty increases requiring significant manual effort or digging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchoring strengthVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cantilever beams are designed to dynamically change position from a retracted state during installation to an extended engaged state during use. This dynamic transformation allows the anchor to be easily driven into the sand without manual digging, then automatically engage to provide strong anchoring resistance against pull-out and blow-over forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The impact sand anchor is self-installing through the cylindrical hammer mechanism that drives the cantilever beams into the sand with impact forces. The anchor serves itself by using the hammer's kinetic energy to penetrate the sand and deploy the cantilever beams, eliminating the need for manual digging or complex installation tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If traditional sand anchors are manually buried in deep holes, then anchoring stability is improved, but installation time and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchoring stabilityVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cantilever beams are pre-positioned in a retracted state that facilitates easy insertion into the sand. Upon impact with the cylindrical hammer, they automatically transition to the engaged state, providing rapid anchoring without requiring time-consuming manual digging or assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The installation process uses periodic impact forces from the cylindrical hammer to drive the cantilever beams into the sand. These repeated impact actions efficiently penetrate the sand and deploy the anchor structure, significantly reducing installation time compared to continuous manual digging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Force

If cantilever beams are driven deep into sand, then pull-out resistance is improved, but risk of over-deformation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepull-out resistanceVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The limiter mechanism is pre-configured to prevent the cantilever beams from being driven beyond their safe engagement depth. This preliminary protective action counteracts the potential harmful effect of over-deformation by automatically stopping the driving force when the beams reach their optimal engagement position in the sand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The limiter mechanism provides feedback control during the installation process by mechanically restraining the cylindrical hammer when the cantilever beams reach their proper engagement depth. This feedback prevents excessive force application that could cause over-deformation or structural damage to the anchor components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 impact sand anchor provides superior resistance to pull-out and blow-over forces, is easier to install than traditional anchors, and can be installed to a shallower depth while maintaining adequate anchoring strength, ensuring safety and convenience for users with limited strength.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the bottom cantilever ends can elastically rotate about the pivot location between a first position and a second position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A cylindrical hammer is configured to slide on the anchor body in the direction of the anchor longitudinal axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Implementation Method 3

The friction force of the sand grains against the bare pole resists pull-out of the pole

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9366051B1Impact sand anchor

Publication Date: 2016.06.14 WOJTOWICZ EDWARD A

AI summary

An impact sand anchor features a body and a plurality of cantilever beams. The cantilever beams define an interior volume between the cantilever beams. The cantilever beams are generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the impact sand anchor in a first position. When the cantilever beams are driven into the sand, as by a trapped cylindrical hammer, the force of sand packed into the interior volume causes the cantilever beams to move radially away from the longitudinal axis to a second position. The movement of the cantilever beams to the second position wedges the impact sand anchor into the sand.