Sliding Reinforcement Basket for Precast Slab Handling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Pre-slabs with protruding baskets are bulky and difficult to store and handle due to the protruding reinforcements, which complicates on-site installation and construction processes.

Innovation Solution

A pre-slab design featuring a concrete body with anchored reinforcements and a sliding basket support system that allows the basket to be retracted during storage and handling, using a stop bar to define the deployed position and prevent detachment during transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the basket is rigidly fixed to the precast slab, then the structural connection is strong, but the precast slab becomes bulky and difficult to store and handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural connectionVSAvoidhandling and storage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The basket is designed to slide along the basket support rather than being rigidly fixed, allowing it to move between a retracted position (for easy handling and storage) and a deployed position (for structural connection). This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by making the connection strength adaptable rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The basket support is separated into a fixed portion (embedded in the concrete body) and a movable portion (the basket that slides). This segmentation allows the basket to be detached or retracted, improving handling and storage while maintaining structural connection when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the basket protrudes from the precast slab, then the load transfer function is effective, but the precast slab becomes bulky and difficult to transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload transfer functionVSAvoidprotrusion volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The basket's protrusion is made dynamic rather than static. It can extend when load transfer is needed and retract when transport is required, resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliability and reducing volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The basket can be nested within or alongside the precast slab when retracted, minimizing the overall volume during transport while still maintaining the ability to protrude when needed for load transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the basket is rigidly anchored to the concrete body, then the connection is stable, but the precast slab is difficult to assemble and adjust on site

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidassembly and adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding mechanism provides both stability (when the basket is locked in position) and adjustability (during assembly). This dynamic system resolves the contradiction by allowing the connection to be stable during use but flexible during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The basket support is pre-installed in the concrete body during manufacturing, but the basket itself can be adjusted and positioned on-site before final locking. This preliminary action separates the manufacturing phase from the assembly phase, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3260620B1Semi-precast slab with sliding reinforcing cage
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 KP1
  • EP3260620B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3260620B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3260620B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a precast slab (1) comprising a concrete body (2) and reinforcement bars anchored in said concrete body, a portion of said reinforcement bars forming at least one basket support (4). According to the invention, the precast slab comprises at least one basket (11) of reinforcement bars not anchored to the concrete body and received by sliding within the basket support between a retracted position and a deployed position in which the basket protrudes from the precast slab, the basket comprising at least one stop bar (18) and extending through the basket support to slide along said basket support until the stop bar abuts against the basket support, defining the deployed position.