Modular Building Panels With Ganged Screw Assembly for Fast Joining
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building construction methods require significant time, coordination between trades, and on-site finishing, leading to increased costs and delays, especially with prefabricated systems that often lack adequate thermal performance for extreme climates.
Innovation Solution
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) and Prefabricated Modular Panels (PMPs) with integrated ganged adjoining screw assemblies (GASA) that include torque limiting devices and penetration measuring devices, allowing for rapid assembly and integration of utilities, reducing on-site work and enhancing thermal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional wood construction methods are used, then flexibility in design and on-site customization are improved, but construction time and labor coordination complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The building structure is divided into modular panels that are pre-fabricated off-site and then assembled on-site. Each panel is a self-contained module with standardized dimensions and integrated components, allowing parallel production of multiple panels while maintaining design flexibility through modular configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Panel assembly, insulation installation, and utility integration are performed in advance during off-site manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for sequential on-site trades work, significantly reducing construction time while preserving design adaptability through modular panel configurations.
2Reliability
If conventional construction sequencing is used, then each trade can complete their specific work, but coordination complexity and site trip costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple trade functions are merged into the modular panel manufacturing process. Insulation, wiring channels, plumbing conduits, and structural elements are integrated during off-site panel assembly, eliminating the need for sequential trades work and reducing coordination complexity to simple panel placement and connection.
3Productivity
If predrilled holes and ganged screw assemblies are used, then panel assembly speed is improved, but screw penetration precision control becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The torque limiting device provides real-time feedback during screw fastening by monitoring and limiting the applied torque. When the preset torque threshold is reached, the device prevents further tightening, ensuring consistent penetration depth and preventing over-tightening across all panels during rapid assembly.
4Productivity
If modular panels with integrated utilities are used, then on-site finishing work is reduced, but off-site manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular panels are designed as multi-functional units that combine structural support, thermal insulation, utility routing, and finishing surfaces in a single integrated component. This universality reduces on-site finishing work while the standardized multi-functional design actually simplifies off-site manufacturing compared to coordinating multiple separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular panel has a box shape for forming a wall, floor, or roof section for constructing a building. The modular panel includes a ganged adjoining screw assembly (GASA) fixedly positioned inside of the modular panel and positioned on at least one side surface of the modular panel. Each GASA includes a plurality of adjoining screw assemblies (ASAs) and a torque limiting device configured to prevent overdriving the screw. Each ASA has a screw configured to penetrate the at least one side surface when rotated in one direction, fixedly attached to a top portion of the screw, and allowing rotational movements of the screw only inside the ASA. The modular panel further includes a penetration measuring device configured to measure an amount of penetration of the screw. The modular panel forms chase-ways inside thereof for wires and pipes.