Interconnected Plastic Slab Bolster with Concrete Flow Voids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slab bolster uppers for reinforced concrete construction lack interconnectability, leading to displacement of reinforcing bars during concrete placement and high construction costs due to corrosion issues with metal supports and limited concrete flow with plastic supports.
Innovation Solution
A slab bolster upper design featuring an elongated base with voids for concrete flow and integrally formed connector members for secure interconnection with adjacent units, allowing easy and strong linking of multiple slab bolster uppers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If welded wire supports are used to support rebars, then the rebars can be fixed at their designated positions, but corrosion may occur and installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses plastic slab bolster uppers that are disposable and non-corrodible, replacing durable but corrosion-prone metal welded wire supports. The plastic uppers are placed under rebars to maintain their position during concrete pouring, then discarded after serving their purpose, eliminating corrosion issues while maintaining reliability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If plastic supports are used to avoid corrosion, then corrosion resistance is improved, but concrete flow is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the plastic slab bolster uppers with a hollow interior cavity that allows concrete to flow through them. This porous structure maintains the non-corrodible advantage of plastic while solving the concrete flow restriction problem, enabling full flow of concrete through and around the supports during placement.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If individual plastic supports are used, then corrosion resistance is achieved, but interconnection capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the support system into modular individual plastic slab bolster uppers that can be independently placed but also interconnected. Each upper is a separate unit providing corrosion resistance, while connection features enable them to be linked together to form continuous support systems, achieving both corrosion protection and interconnection capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If connection features are added to plastic supports, then interconnection capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates connection features directly into the plastic slab bolster upper structure during molding. The connection protrusions and recesses are formed as integral parts of the upper body, combining the support function and connection function into a single molded component, thereby improving interconnection capability without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a slab bolster upper for supporting rebars in a reinforced concrete structure. The slab bolster upper comprises an elongated base defining a lower surface, an upper surface for supporting the rebars, a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, voids formed through the elongated base to facilitate free flow of concrete therethrough and around the elongated base, a first connexion integrally formed about the first edge of the elongated base and a second connexion integrally formed about the second edge of the elongated base. The first and second connexions are configured to securely engage with corresponding first and second connexions of adjacent slab bolster uppers for interconnecting a plurality of slab bolster uppers together.