Moment Connection Collar Assembly for Precise Beam-to-Column Welding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manufacturing methods for full moment collar beam mounts in steel frame construction lack precision, leading to undesirable deviations due to imprecisions in beam and column connections, which require precise positioning and welding of collar components.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a support assembly and weld fixture that allows for adjustable support and rotation of elongate members, with gripping stations and clamps to precisely position collar components relative to one another, ensuring accurate alignment and welding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional welding techniques are used for beam and column connections, then construction flexibility is maintained, but manufacturing precision deteriorates leading to undesirable deviations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assembling collar components (collar corners, flange sub-assemblies, web inserts) in a controlled manufacturing environment using positioning fixtures and jigs before shipping to the construction site. This pre-positioning ensures precise spatial relationships are established beforehand, eliminating field welding uncertainties and achieving high connection precision without requiring complex on-site manufacturing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary positioning fixtures, jigs, and alignment tools as mediators between the collar components and the final assembled structure. These intermediaries provide reference surfaces, alignment features, and mechanical constraints that enable precise positioning of collar corners and flange sub-assemblies during manufacturing, achieving high precision without requiring the final assembly system to be equally complex.
2Measurement precision
If multiple collar components are assembled with tight tolerances, then overall frame accuracy is improved, but positioning difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service through self-aligning features built into the collar components themselves, such as tapered interfaces, machined reference surfaces, and keyed connection elements. These features automatically guide components into their correct spatial positions and orientations when assembled, enabling high measurement precision without requiring complex external positioning equipment or difficult manual alignment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with simpler geometric constraints and form-fits interfaces. By designing collar components with inherent alignment features (tapered surfaces, precision-machined faces, interlocking geometries), the system achieves high spatial location accuracy through the components' own geometry rather than requiring elaborate external positioning mechanisms, thereby reducing positioning difficulty.
3Reliability
If collar components are precisely positioned and welded, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the collar assembly into discrete, pre-manufactured components (collar corners, flange sub-assemblies, web inserts) that can be independently fabricated and precisely positioned separately before final assembly. This segmentation allows parallel manufacturing of multiple components, improving productivity while maintaining connection reliability through precise positioning of each segment using dedicated fixtures and jigs during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assembling and pre-welding collar components in a controlled manufacturing environment using positioning fixtures before shipping to the construction site. This preliminary assembly ensures high connection reliability is achieved during manufacturing when precision tools are available, while the actual on-site installation is accelerated because the precision work is already completed beforehand, thus resolving the productivity conflict.
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.