One-Touch Rebar Coupler Structure to Prevent Bar Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rebar connection methods, such as lap joints, welding, and mechanical joints, face issues like high rebar loss, weak overlapping strength, prolonged construction time, and increased costs due to complex manual operations and weak holding forces in one-touch joints, which lead to rebar movement and slipping.
Innovation Solution
A rebar movement-prevention-type one-touch coupler with a tubular housing unit design featuring a tapered inner surface, non-tapered inner surface with a female thread, and a cylindrical connection socket, along with piece body units and springs, allows for secure rebar fixation through double-tightening operations, preventing rebar movement and enabling easy length estimation with a non-thread machined surface and polygonal coupling guide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional one-touch joint reinforcing bar coupler is used, then the construction time is reduced, but the holding force of the reinforcing bar is weak leading to movement and slipping
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler body is divided into a first coupler body and a second coupler body that are separated during insertion but then coupled together. This segmentation allows for a simplified insertion process (improving productivity) while the subsequent coupling creates a robust locked structure that prevents rebar movement (improving reliability).
Solution Approach 2:
The rebars are pre-inserted into the separated coupler bodies before the coupling action occurs. This preliminary insertion simplifies the overall process by eliminating the need for complex alignment during insertion, while the subsequent coupling of the two coupler bodies creates a secure connection that prevents rebar slipping.
2Strength
If a mechanical joint method with multiple manual operations is used, then the connection strength is improved, but the construction time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion and locking functions are merged into a single coupling action between the first and second coupler bodies. The coupling structure integrates the locking mechanism within the coupler bodies themselves, eliminating the need for separate locking operations while maintaining strong connection strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupler bodies are designed to automatically lock together through their coupling structure after rebar insertion. The coupling surfaces and locking features are self-aligning and self-securing, eliminating the need for additional manual locking operations or external tools, thus reducing construction time while maintaining connection strength.
3Reliability
If a supporting member is mounted at the center of the coupler, then rebar movement is prevented, but it becomes difficult to estimate the insertion length
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a central supporting member that obstructs the view, the solution uses coupling surfaces on the outer surfaces of the coupler bodies. These surfaces provide visual references for insertion length estimation while the actual movement prevention is achieved through the coupling mechanism between the two coupler bodies, separating the measurement function from the locking function.
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 solution provides stable and secure rebar fixation without movement, reduces construction time and costs, and allows for accurate length estimation during rebar connection, enhancing the operational efficiency of rebar connections in large structures like bridges.
Implementation Method 1
a spring configured to provide an elastic force in a longitudinal direction to the piece body unit
Data Source
AI summary
A rebar movement-prevention-type one-touch coupler is configured to allow rebars to be fixed without a movement of the rebars after performing a one-touch insertion. A fixation of the rebars is completed by performing an additional tightening operation to housing units into which the rebars are inserted. The coupler increases both the fixation stability of the rebar and the safety of a structure employing the rebar.