Pre-Assembled Multi-Bolt Connector for Tolerance-Aligned Formwork
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing supporting frame structures for formwork require significant assembly and disassembly effort, and pose safety risks due to the complexity of connecting bolts, which can lead to forgotten bolts affecting load-bearing capacity.
Innovation Solution
A multiple bolt connector with pre-assembled bolts on a base plate, allowing for precise alignment and movement to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, ensuring easy assembly and enhanced safety by preventing forgotten bolts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If individual bolts are used for connecting ledgers to connectors, then assembly flexibility is maintained, but assembly time and effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual bolts are merged into a single pre-assembled bolt connector unit. The base plate with multiple bolts attached is manufactured as one integrated component, eliminating the need to handle and install each bolt separately. This merging directly addresses the contradiction by reducing assembly time (improving productivity) while the pre-assembled nature simplifies the connection process (reducing device complexity).
Solution Approach 2:
The bolts are pre-assembled onto the base plate during manufacturing, creating a ready-to-install connector unit. This preliminary action eliminates the need for on-site bolt installation procedures, significantly reducing assembly time and effort. The pre-configuration also ensures all necessary fastening elements are present, reducing the risk of assembly errors.
2Reliability
If multiple individual bolts are installed separately, then connection security is improved, but assembly effort and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple bolts are combined into a single pre-assembled unit that maintains the security benefits of multiple fastening points while eliminating the time-consuming individual installation process. The unified connector ensures all bolts are installed together, guaranteeing complete connection without requiring separate operations for each bolt.
Solution Approach 2:
The bolts are pre-installed on the base plate during manufacturing, ensuring all fastening elements are ready before site assembly. This preliminary preparation maintains connection reliability by ensuring all necessary bolts are present and correctly positioned, while dramatically reducing on-site assembly time.
3Manufacturing precision
If through-holes are arranged with fixed precision, then bolt alignment accuracy is improved, but manufacturing tolerance accumulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design incorporates dynamic adjustment capability through movable bolts or adjustable positioning features on the base plate. This allows the connector to adapt to varying hole positions within tolerance ranges, compensating for manufacturing variations. The dynamic element enables the system to accommodate tolerance accumulation while maintaining proper bolt alignment during installation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Bolt connector (8) for connecting a bar (2) with a connecting part (3) of a building structure, in particular a supporting or shoring structure (1), comprising: a base plate (8), several bolts (14) which are movably attached to the base plate (13) in a first direction (X) of the base plate (13) with a first clearance and in a second direction (Y) of the base plate (13) with a second clearance.