Profiled Shank Nails for Metal-to-Metal Panel Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assembling and fixing composite panels, particularly in tilt-up wall construction, face challenges in quickly and effectively interconnecting deck components and installing fixtures like windows and doors, often relying on anchoring in settable materials which can be problematic, especially with metal-to-metal connections.
Innovation Solution
The use of nails with profiled shanks, which can be serrated, for fixing components together, allowing for metal-to-metal engagement without the need for anchoring behind the metal sheet, enabling rapid and secure installation of components and fixtures by interacting with the metal sheets, and accommodating high loading conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional anchoring methods are used for metal-to-metal fixing, then the fixing can be secured behind the metal sheet, but the process becomes complex and requires support from behind the component
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the anchoring function from the traditional behind-sheet method and relocates it to the front surface. The profiled shank with protrusions engages directly with the metal sheet surface through mechanical interlocking, eliminating the need for behind-sheet anchoring support structures and simplifying the fixing process to a single-sided operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of anchoring from behind the metal sheet as in traditional methods, the invention inverts the approach by engaging the profiled shank from the front surface. The protrusions on the shank engage with the metal sheet in reverse orientation, allowing fixing without requiring access to the backside of the component.
2Productivity
If profiled shank nails are used for metal-to-metal fixing, then rapid and secure installation is achieved, but the nail design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the nail shank by adding profiled protrusions with specific dimensions and configurations. These parameter changes enable the nail to mechanically interlock with the metal sheet, providing rapid and secure installation while the standardized profile design keeps the complexity manageable through repetition and standardization.
3Ease of operation
If full face fixing is implemented without behind-sheet support, then the installation is simplified and components can be fixed directly, but the fixing must accommodate high loading conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The profiled shank is designed with pre-formed protrusions that create mechanical interlocking engagement with the metal sheet upon insertion. This preliminary geometric configuration ensures that the fixing can immediately accommodate high loading conditions from the front surface without requiring additional behind-sheet support structures.
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
This method provides a fast, effective, and cost-efficient way to fix components and fixtures to the structure, allowing for full-face fixing without requiring support from behind, thereby simplifying the installation process and enhancing the structural connection, especially in composite structures like those described in International patent application WO2006/058390.
Implementation Method 1
The profiled shank of the nails is serrated... the nails are fixed by interaction of the profiled shank with the metal sheet
Implementation Method 2
the profiled shank of the nails is serrated... provide a very effective fixing technique which is able to accommodate high loading
Data Source
AI summary
A method of fixing overlaying components together, comprising the step of piercing nails having a profiled shank through the components to fix those components together. Structures including metal sheet are also disclosed which utilize this fixing technique. The structures include composite wall panels used in tilt up wall panel construction.