Rail Anchor Rivet Nuts Crimped Fixation Corrosion Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing anchor rails face issues with high transport costs due to unfavorable volume and logistical efforts for different types of loads, and they often compromise corrosion protection during the welding process or securing connecting parts, which are expensive and ineffective.

Innovation Solution

The use of rivet nuts with a base body and a collar section as connecting parts, where the collar is crimped to widen and securely fix the rivets to the rail body, providing adequate corrosion protection and allowing for easy adaptation to different loads without significant increases in transport volume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If welding process is used to fix anchor elements to rail body, then anchor elements are securely fixed, but anti-corrosion layer is destroyed and material properties are adversely affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation strengthVSAvoidcorrosion protection
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful welding process from the fixation method and replaces it with mechanical connection using connecting parts with threaded connections. This eliminates the destruction of the anti-corrosion layer while maintaining secure fixation of anchor elements to the rail body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces connecting parts as an intermediary element between the anchor elements and the rail body. These connecting parts feature threaded connections that provide secure fixation without requiring welding, thus preserving the anti-corrosion layer and material properties of the rail body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If different types of anchor rails are made for different types of loads, then load-specific requirements are met, but logistical effort increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload adaptationVSAvoidlogistical complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a universal rail body design that can accommodate different types of loads through standardized receiving spaces and assembly openings. The same rail body can be used with different anchor elements and connecting parts configurations, eliminating the need for multiple specialized rail types and reducing logistical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the anchor rail system into modular components: a universal rail body, various anchor elements, and different connecting parts. This segmentation allows flexibility in configuring the system for different load requirements while maintaining a consistent base structure, thereby reducing the number of unique components needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If connecting parts are secured on rail body by traditional methods, then fixation is achieved, but corrosion protection at perforation edges is lost and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnecting part fixationVSAvoidcorrosion at perforation edges
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the potentially harmful exposed perforation edges into a beneficial configuration by designing the connecting parts to overlap these edges. The connecting parts act as protective elements that cover the vulnerable perforation edges, transforming the corrosion risk into an opportunity for enhanced protection while maintaining fixation strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution ensures secure fixation of anchor elements, maintains corrosion protection, and allows for easy adaptation to various loads, minimizing transport volume and logistical efforts while maintaining the rail body's structural integrity and load-bearing capacity.

Implementation Method 1

the collar sections of the rivets inserted through the perforation are widened, in particular crimped, to fix the rivets to the rail body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrimping: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP2199476B1Anchor bar
Publication Date: 2014.05.07 HILTI AG
  • EP2199476B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2199476B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2199476B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The rail has connecting parts (21) provided in punched holes (15) and for fixing anchor elements (26) on a rail body (12). The connecting parts are formed as rivets with fixing sections plugged in the punched holes. The fixing sections are flanged for fixing the rivets on the rail body. The connecting parts have a fixing unit that fixes the anchor elements on the rail body. The rail body forms a receiver chamber (13) for receiving a connecting part (7) for fixing a fastening element (6) to the rail.