Retaining Wall Support Rail Channel Nesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing retaining walls protrude beyond the beams on the side facing away from the embankment, posing a visual and safety concern, especially in areas where people frequently interact with the structure, such as during cycling, skiing, or hiking.

Innovation Solution

The support rail channel is countersunk between the beams, and the nut is positioned entirely within this channel, with the anchor's end and nut thread configuration ensuring that no components protrude beyond the support shoulder on the embankment side, allowing for a more aesthetically pleasing and safer design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the support rail and anchor components are arranged in a conventional configuration, then the structural integrity and fastening function are achieved, but parts of the retaining wall protrude beyond the beams on the side facing away from the embankment, creating safety hazards and visual drawbacks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety hazard from protruding componentsVSAvoidconfiguration complexity of support rail channel and nut arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The nut is nested inside the support rail channel, and the anchor end is nested within the channel as well. This nested arrangement ensures that no components protrude beyond the support shoulder on the embankment side, eliminating safety hazards while maintaining the fastening function. The channel acts as a containing structure that houses both the nut and anchor end.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The support rail channel is arranged countersunk between the beams, creating a recessed dimensional configuration. This dimensional change allows the nut and anchor to be positioned within the recessed area rather than protruding outward, solving the safety hazard problem while preserving structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Shape

If the support rail channel is arranged countersunk between the beams with the nut inside the channel, then the visual appeal and safety are improved, but the manufacturing and assembly precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearance of retaining wallVSAvoidprecision of countersunk channel and nut positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support rail channel is pre-formed with a countersunk configuration between the beams before final assembly. This preliminary preparation of the channel geometry ensures that when the support rail and nut are installed, the nut will naturally be positioned within the recessed area, achieving the desired aesthetic appearance without requiring post-installation adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Length of stationary object

If the anchor end and nut are positioned within the support rail channel, then no components protrude beyond the support shoulder, but the space requirements and structural design complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotrusion length of retaining wall componentsVSAvoidstructural design of support rail channel
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor end, nut, and support rail channel are arranged in a nested configuration where the nut is inside the channel and the anchor end is also within the channel. This nesting eliminates protrusions beyond the support shoulder while the channel structure itself provides the necessary structural design to accommodate all components compactly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3147411B1Supporting wall
Publication Date: 2017.09.20 HTB BAUGMBH
  • EP3147411B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3147411B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3147411B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Retaining wall (1) for supporting a slope (2), wherein the retaining wall (1) has at least one sequence of beams (3) and at least one support rail (4) arranged orthogonally or transversely to the beams (3), wherein the support rail (4) has at least one support shoulder (5) with which the support rail (4) rests on the beams (3) on the side (13) facing away from the slope (2), and at least one support rail channel (6), wherein the support rail (4) is fastened by means of at least one nut (7) of the retaining wall (1) to at least one anchor (8) of the retaining wall (1) anchored in the slope (2), wherein the support rail channel (6) is preferably completely recessed into a region (9) between the beams (3) and the nut (7) is preferably completely arranged within the support rail channel (6).