Laminated Splice Plate for Grain Bin Vertical Seam Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large grain bins face structural integrity issues due to gaps at the connection points of corrugated steel sheets, leading to potential grain leakage and misalignment of holes, which compromise the bin's strength and erection speed.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring inner and outer splice plates with aligned holes that secure the sheets together, providing double shear points for bolts to maintain perpendicular alignment and eliminate gaps at seam connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If overlapping connection of sheet ends is used, then structural strength is improved, but a gap is created at the seam connection
Solution Approach 1:
A splice plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the overlapping sheet ends. The splice plate fills the gap created by overlapping connections and provides a surface for bolt attachment, eliminating the harmful gap while maintaining the structural strength benefits of overlapping connections.
2Strength
If thicker gauge steel is used, then structural strength is improved, but hole alignment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The splice plate serves as an intermediary that standardizes the hole alignment interface. By providing a consistent plate structure with pre-positioned holes, it accommodates variations in hole positioning that occur when punching holes in thicker gauge steel sheets, making the connection process easier and more reliable.
3Reliability
If overlapping connection is used, then grain leakage is prevented, but erection speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The splice plates are prepared in advance with holes positioned and spaced according to the specific bin design requirements. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for field measurement and hole positioning during erection, significantly speeding up the assembly process while maintaining the gap-filling functionality that prevents grain leakage.
4Reliability
If gap filling is implemented, then structural integrity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The splice plate design utilizes parameter variations in hole spacing and positioning to accommodate different sheet thicknesses and overlap configurations. By changing the geometric parameters of the splice plate rather than the fundamental connection mechanism, the solution maintains structural integrity across various applications without requiring complex adaptive mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for connecting sheets of a grain bin together having an inner plate that fits over a vertical seam formed at the ends of two abutting sheets. The inner plate has a plurality of holes that generally align with holes in the ends of the sheets. An outer plate is positioned to cover the vertical seam and has a plurality of holes that generally align with the holes on the ends of the sheets. Bolts extend through the holes to secure the inner plate, sheets, and outer plate together.