Magnetic Bracket for Water Tower Hardware Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Securing telecommunications hardware to water towers is challenging due to their curved surfaces, structural sensitivity, and material variability, while traditional methods like drilling or welding can compromise the tower's integrity and require skilled labor.
Innovation Solution
A novel magnetic bracket system using high-strength rare-earth alloy magnets mounted on adjustable trays, combined with threaded hover bolts, provides a robust and non-invasive attachment method that adapts to the tower's surface and allows for easy installation, repositioning, and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional drilling or welding methods are used to attach hardware to water towers, then secure attachment is achieved, but the tower's structural integrity and coating are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical attachment methods (drilling, welding) with a magnetic field-based attachment system. High-strength magnets mounted on the bracket create magnetic attraction forces that securely hold the antenna without physical penetration or heat application, thereby preserving the tower's structural integrity and protective coating.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic bracket system introduces magnets as an intermediary between the mounting hardware and the water tower surface. This intermediary creates a non-contact force field that transmits the attachment function without direct mechanical contact, avoiding damage to the tower structure and coating.
2Strength
If welding is used for attachment, then secure mounting is achieved, but skilled labor and specialized equipment are required, increasing installation time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex welding process with a simpler magnetic attachment mechanism. The magnetic bracket requires no specialized welding equipment or skilled labor—installation involves mounting the bracket with magnets and attaching the antenna, dramatically reducing installation complexity and cost while maintaining secure mounting.
3Reliability
If permanent modifications are made to the tower for antenna installation, then stable attachment is achieved, but future technology upgrades become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic bracket system is inherently dynamic and reversible. The magnets can be easily detached and repositioned, allowing the antenna to be removed, replaced, or upgraded without permanent modifications to the tower. This dynamic attachment method provides both stability during operation and flexibility for future upgrades.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic bracket allows for easy discarding of old antenna equipment and recovery of the mounting system for reuse with new technology. The magnets and bracket remain on the tower and can support different antenna configurations over time, enabling technology upgrades without leaving permanent modification traces.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple brackets are used to accommodate future upgrades, then adaptability is improved, but the number of magnets and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic bracket is designed as a universal mounting system that can accommodate various antenna types and configurations. The same bracket with magnets can be used for current technology and future upgrades, eliminating the need for multiple specialized brackets and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
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 magnetic bracket system offers exceptional holding power, adaptability, safety, and environmental benefits, ensuring secure attachment of telecommunications hardware even in harsh conditions, while minimizing structural damage and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
The magnets generate substantially 5,000 pounds of force when mounted in the configuration described herein
Implementation Method 2
threaded hover bolts beneath the magnets, which serve dual purposes: preventing premature attachment during installation and aiding in overcoming the magnetic force when repositioning or removing the bracket
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for securing hardware to a surface of a structure including a base plate with an upper surface, a lower surface and a circumferential surface. The apparatus also includes a spaced apart pair of securement members mounted substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the base plate, each of the securement members comprising an inner face and an outer face. The apparatus further includes a plurality of trays spaced apart from one another and from the lower surface of the base plate and mounted to the base plate, the spaced apart trays each including a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, an upper surface and a lower surface. Also included are a plurality of magnets mounted to the lower surface of each of the plurality of trays.