Roofing Fastener Tool with Removable Guide and Telescopic Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an easily serviceable installation tool that can efficiently install threaded fasteners of varying lengths through different sizes and types of washers, including those with coated top surfaces, on roofs and other structures.
Innovation Solution
A fastener installation tool with a frame, handle, and drive assembly that includes a removable washer plate guide assembly, shuttle mechanism, and screw feed arrangement, allowing for the precise placement and installation of threaded fasteners through a washer plate, accommodating different washer sizes and types, and featuring a scraper to prevent washer return and ensure efficient feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed washer plate guide is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different sizes and types of washers
Solution Approach 1:
The washer plate guide wall assembly is made movable rather than fixed. The guide wall can be positioned at different locations along the plate washer guide grooves to accommodate different sized washers. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the same device to handle various washer dimensions without requiring multiple dedicated guides, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable washer plate guide wall assembly serves multiple functions: it guides different sizes of plate washers, supports the shuttle mechanism, and can be repositioned along the guide grooves. By making the guide wall universal and adaptable to different washer types and sizes, the invention eliminates the need for multiple specialized guides, achieving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If coated washer plates are used, then protection against corrosion is improved, but the coated surface can be damaged during installation
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible scraper made of elastomeric material is used to interact with the coated washer plate surfaces. The elastomeric material is soft enough to conform to the coated surface without causing damage, yet firm enough to perform the scraping function. This flexible interface protects the corrosion-resistant coating while enabling the mechanical action needed for proper washer plate installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper material properties are carefully selected to change the interaction parameters between the scraping mechanism and the coated surface. By using elastomeric material with specific hardness and flexibility characteristics, the system achieves gentle contact that preserves the coating integrity while still providing effective scraping action to prevent washer plate return and ensure proper positioning.
3Productivity
If manual washer plate placement is used, then the device is simple, but installation efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The shuttle mechanism is designed to automatically deliver plate washers from the loading area to the installation position without requiring manual intervention for each washer. The gravity-fed system and mechanical linkage allow the washer to be pushed along the guide grooves and positioned automatically, significantly increasing installation speed and efficiency while keeping the overall device relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The shuttle acts as an intermediary mechanism between the plate washer stack and the installation point. It receives washers from the loading area, transports them along the guide grooves, and delivers them to the correct position. This intermediary shuttle system automates the washer delivery process, improving productivity without requiring complex robotic or automated handling systems.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the handle telescoping tube is rigid, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different fastener lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The handle telescoping tube is designed with telescopic capability, allowing it to extend and retract to accommodate different fastener lengths. This dynamic adjustment enables the same handle mechanism to work with fasteners ranging from 1 to 12 inches in length, providing versatility without requiring multiple dedicated handles or complex adjustable mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping tube mechanism uses nested tubes where one tube is inserted within another, similar to nested dolls. This allows the handle to change its effective length by extending or retracting the inner tube relative to the outer tube, accommodating various fastener lengths while maintaining a compact storage size and relatively simple structure.
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
Enables efficient and versatile installation of threaded fasteners through washer plates of various sizes and types, ensuring proper alignment and secure fastening while preventing washer damage, facilitating easy use and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a spring that biases the handle telescoping tube away from the base
Implementation Method 2
the threaded fastener is adapted to be fed by gravity through the upper and lower screw feed guides into the drive shaft tube
Implementation Method 3
A scraper on the medial wall prevents the washer plate from returning with the shuttle from the installation position
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener installation tool is provided for installing threaded fasteners through a washer plate having a center hole used in connection with roofing membrane installation. The installation tool is configured to receive different types of washer plates, and is easily dis-assembleable in the field without the need for tools in order to easily and simply clear jams.