One-Touch Rebar Coupler With Checking Hole for Secure Fastening
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional one-touch couplers for reinforcing steel bars face issues such as oxidation and breakdown of O-rings, complex structures with multiple parts, air pockets that reduce coupling strength, and lack of visibility for proper rebar insertion verification.
Innovation Solution
A simplified one-touch connection device with a pair of coupler bodies featuring a checking hole for concrete flow and quality assurance, a connector, locks with a breaking disc mechanism, and elastic members to securely fasten reinforcing bars without O-rings, allowing easy assembly and minimizing parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional one-touch couplers use O-rings for sealing, then the device can maintain closure during storage and construction, but the O-rings oxidize and break down over time, causing fastening failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the O-ring component entirely from the coupler design. Instead of using an elastomeric seal that degrades over time, the invention relies on the structural fit between the coupler body and conical seat to maintain sealing and fastening functionality, thereby eliminating oxidation and breakdown issues associated with rubber materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the durable but problematic O-ring with a simple, non-elastomeric sealing structure that does not rely on rubber materials. The sealing function is achieved through the geometric fit and elastic member action rather than a degradable elastomeric seal, effectively substituting a long-lived but unreliable component with a simpler alternative.
2Reliability
If conventional one-touch couplers use multiple parts for fastening, then the device can provide secure locking, but the complexity increases and assembly productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the locking and fastening functions into a unified mechanism where the single elastic member performs both locking and securing operations. The conical seat geometry combines the guiding and locking functions, eliminating the need for separate locking components and simplifying the assembly process while maintaining secure fastening.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the fastening force, maintains the locked position, and ensures proper alignment through the conical seat. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of parts required while achieving reliable locking and securing in a single operation.
3Ease of operation
If conventional one-touch couplers remain open during rebar insertion, then the rebars can be easily inserted, but air pockets form inside the coupler, reducing coupling strength
Solution Approach 1:
The conical seat geometry is designed to guide the rebar into proper alignment before the elastic member engages. This preliminary guiding action ensures the rebar is correctly positioned and aligned prior to fastening, allowing easy insertion while preventing misalignment that could create voids or reduce coupling strength.
4Reliability
If conventional one-touch couplers use complex internal structures for fastening, then the device can secure the rebar firmly, but the inside of the coupler body becomes invisible, making verification difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler body is divided into an external portion and an internal mechanism portion. The external portion maintains a simple, observable structure, while the internal fastening mechanism operates within the coupler body. This segmentation allows the verification of rebar insertion through the simple external geometry without exposing complex internal components.
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 enhances assembly productivity, reduces part complexity and breakage, ensures strong connections by eliminating air pockets, and allows for easy verification of rebar placement, thereby improving the overall efficiency and reliability of rebar connections.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic member is configured to apply an elastic force to move the lock in a direction opposite to the insertion direction to fasten the reinforcing bar in the corresponding lock
Data Source
AI summary
A non-threaded, one-touch connection device for connecting reinforcing bars includes a pair of coupler bodies fastened together by a connector and each of the coupler bodies having a hollow portion for receiving the reinforcing bar. An inner diameter of the coupler body gradually increases from an entrance of the coupler body to an end opposite to the entrance. A lock is placed in the coupler body. The lock includes slits and wall parts partially separated by the slits. The lock further includes a breaking disc configured to break away from the lock. An elastic member is placed between the connector and the lock to apply an elastic force to move the lock toward the entrance when the reinforcing bar is fastened to the lock. The coupler body further has a checking hole to allow concrete to flow in and out.