Moment Connection Collar Assembly Alignment for Precision Welding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manufacturing processes for full moment collar beam mounts face challenges in achieving precise positioning and welding of collar components due to tolerances and imprecisions in beam and column connections, leading to undesirable deviations from specifications.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a support assembly and a weld fixture with adjustable gripping stations and rotating clamps that allow precise alignment and securement of collar components relative to each other and the elongate member, enabling precise positioning and welding without requiring separate equipment for various sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional welding techniques are used for beam and column connections, then construction flexibility is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to tolerances and imprecisions accumulating along the building frame length
Solution Approach 1:
The collar components are pre-assembled and pre-welded into complete beam mounts in a controlled manufacturing environment before delivery to the construction site. This preliminary assembly ensures precise positioning and welding without the accumulation of tolerances that would occur if connections were made individually during construction.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple collar components that would traditionally be assembled and welded separately at the construction site are instead combined and pre-assembled into a complete beam mount assembly in the manufacturing facility. This merging of operations ensures consistent precision across all connections in the assembly.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple sets of equipment are used to accommodate various sizes of beam and column connections, then manufacturing precision is improved for each size, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single set of manufacturing equipment is designed with adjustable features that allow it to accommodate multiple sizes of beam and column connections. The equipment can be reconfigured for different connection types and sizes, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated equipment sets while maintaining manufacturing precision through controlled positioning and welding processes.
3Ease of operation
If collar components are positioned and welded separately at the construction site, then ease of assembly is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to lack of controlled conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The collar components are pre-positioned and pre-welded into the complete beam mount assembly in a controlled manufacturing environment where precise spatial orientation can be ensured. This preliminary action transfers the precision requirements to the manufacturing phase rather than the construction phase, while the pre-assembled unit simplifies on-site installation.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for connecting collar components to an elongate member is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame structure having a central opening that is configured to receive an elongate member and that includes at least a first gripping station and a second gripping station. Each gripping station includes a reference surface and a clamp device that is configured to force a collar component against the reference surface. The first and second gripping stations are configured to control relative spatial location of a first collar component held by the first gripping station relative to a second collar component gripped by the second gripping station, prior to connecting the first and second collar components to the elongate member.