Scaffolding Coupler Oval Wire Design Material Savings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scaffolding couplers are costly due to excessive material usage and lack durability, leading to high manufacturing costs and weight, which complicates transportation and usage.

Innovation Solution

The scaffolding coupler is designed with oval-shaped wire U-shaped profiles for tube receiving parts, reducing material consumption while maintaining strength, and incorporating a hingeable closing element with a wedge for secure clamping, optionally with a rotatable connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional round solid wire is used for tube receiving parts, then sufficient strength is achieved, but material consumption and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupler strengthVSAvoidmaterial consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from round solid wire to oval-shaped wire for the tube receiving parts. This geometric parameter change allows the same material to provide equivalent or superior strength while reducing material consumption by over 10%, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and material quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If conventional round solid wire is used for tube receiving parts, then sufficient strength is achieved, but coupler weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupler strengthVSAvoidcoupler weight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces coupler weight by changing the wire cross-sectional geometry from circular to oval. This parameter change maintains the required strength for tube receiving while reducing material consumption, resulting in a weight reduction of over 10% for the coupler.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If larger steel surface area is used in conventional couplers, then sufficient strength is achieved, but galvanizing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupler strengthVSAvoidsteel surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces galvanizing costs by changing the wire geometry from round to oval, which decreases the total steel surface area requiring galvanization. This parameter change maintains structural strength while reducing the quantity of material to be coated, directly addressing the contradiction between strength and surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3218558B1Scaffolding system, as well as a coupler of such system and a method for the manufacture of the coupler
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 VAN THIEL UNITED
  • EP3218558B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3218558B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3218558B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A scaffolding system comprising scaffolding tubes and at least one scaffolding coupler for detachably connecting the scaffolding tubes to each other, wherein the scaffolding coupler comprises two tube receiving parts (1a, 1b), characterized in that one or more parts of the scaffolding coupler substantially consist of oval-shaped wire. The invention further provides a coupler as mentioned and a method for manufacturing the coupler.