Sealing Plug with Rotating Element for Anchor Holes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing plugs for anchor holes in concrete walls, particularly conical holes, fail to provide a permanent watertight closure, especially under high water pressure, and can lose tension over time due to twisting issues.
Innovation Solution
A sealing plug design featuring a flexible element that expands outward without torsion, using a threaded rod element and counter element with a rotating washer to prevent twisting, and additional flexible elements separated by non-rotating elements to ensure a ratchet-like fixation, allowing for a watertight and fire-retardant seal over extended lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sealing plug is pushed into the anchor hole in the direction of its longitudinal axis, then the installation is simple, but no permanent watertight closure can be achieved under high water pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing plug transitions from a static pushed-in design to a dynamic screw-in design where the plug rotates and expands radially within the anchor hole. The threaded rod element allows progressive insertion while the flexible element expands outward to create a permanent watertight seal that can withstand high water pressures.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism changes the physical state of the flexible element from a compressed state during insertion to an expanded radial state during sealing. The flexible element undergoes parameter change from longitudinal compression to radial expansion, creating an effective seal against the anchor hole walls.
2Strength
If a screw is used to tighten the sealing plug axially, then radial expansion of the sealing plug is achieved, but the sealing ring is twisted relative to the nut causing retorsion and loss of tension over time
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing plug is divided into functionally independent segments: the threaded rod element for insertion, the flexible sealing element for sealing, and the rotating element that prevents torsion. This segmentation allows the tightening function to be separated from the sealing function, preventing the retorsion problem where the sealing ring twists during screw tightening.
Solution Approach 2:
A rotating element acts as an intermediary between the threaded rod element and the flexible sealing element. This intermediary component absorbs and prevents the transmission of torsional forces to the sealing element during the tightening process, maintaining the sealing element's orientation and preventing retorsion.
3Length of stationary object
If multiple flexible elements are used to seal longer anchor holes, then sealing length is increased, but the risk of twisting and tension loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system uses multiple flexible elements separated by non-rotating elements, creating segmented sealing zones along the anchor hole. Each flexible element is independently supported by its adjacent non-rotating elements, preventing cumulative twisting effects and maintaining tension integrity over extended sealing lengths.
Solution Approach 2:
Non-rotating elements serve as intermediaries between multiple flexible sealing elements. These intermediary components prevent torsional forces from propagating between adjacent flexible elements, ensuring that each sealing element maintains its tension independently over the extended anchor hole length.
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 achieves a permanent, watertight seal for anchor holes without twisting, maintaining tension over time and providing a fire-retardant effect, while also allowing for effective sealing of conical holes.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible element is expanded outwards and causes the anchor hole to be closed
Implementation Method 2
the rod element is designed as a threaded element which has at least a first threaded rod section with a first thread which engages in a second thread of the counter element
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a sealing plug (10c) for closing anchor holes in concrete walls. The sealing plug (10c) can have a rod element (12c), which can be screwed into a counter element (18c) or onto which a counter element (18c) can be screwed. During the screwing in, a flexible element (24c), preferably in the form of a rubber tube, can be pressed in the longitudinal direction of the sealing plug (10c), such that the flexible element is radially expanded and closes the anchor hole. A rotary element (20c) can be provided between the flexible element (24c) and the rod element (12c) and/or the counter element (18c), which rotary element prevents a torsion of the flexible element (24c) during the screwing of the rotary element (20c) and the counter element (18c). Alternatively or additionally thereto, the sealing plug can have an inlet and an outlet in order to be filled with a sealing mass via the inlet after the insertion of the sealing plug into the anchor hole, which sealing mass exits from the outlet and closes intermediate spaces between the sealing plug and the side walls of the anchor hole. A permanently watertight closure of an anchor hole can thereby be achieved.