Split Nut for Inaccessible Anchor Bolt Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support structures, such as cell towers, often face safety issues due to additional weight from upgraded equipment, as they were not originally designed to support this increased load, making it impractical to replace them with stronger towers.
Innovation Solution
A split nut design that allows for supplemental anchor bolts to be added to existing support structures by clamping around exposed bolt portions, enabling secure attachment of additional weight-bearing platforms without requiring access to the entire bolt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional equipment is added to existing towers to upgrade technology, then the functional capability and technology level are improved, but the weight increases beyond the original design tolerance making the structure unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The nut is divided into two separate half-nuts that can be positioned on opposite sides of the support platform, allowing the assembly to be segmented through the platform rather than requiring disassembly or access from one side only
Solution Approach 2:
The support platform acts as an intermediary element that the bolt passes through, allowing the split-nut assembly to be installed by clamping around the exposed bolt portion between the foundation and platform
2Strength
If the nut is designed as a single solid piece, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the nut cannot be installed on bolts where the end is inaccessible behind the support platform
Solution Approach 1:
The nut is divided into two separate half-nuts that can be positioned on opposite sides of the support platform, allowing the assembly to be segmented through the platform rather than requiring disassembly or access from one side only
Solution Approach 2:
The two half-nuts are connected by connectors to function as a single integrated nut assembly, merging the separate components into a unified fastening element that maintains structural integrity
3Strength
If new towers are constructed to support additional equipment weight, then the weight bearing capacity is sufficient, but the cost and time required becomes impractical
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the existing towers and constructing new ones, the invention recovers and reinforces the existing structures by adding supplemental anchor bolts and split-nut assemblies to increase their load-bearing capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The split-nut assembly is designed to be pre-installed on the bolt between the foundation and platform, allowing the reinforcement to be prepared in advance before final tightening and platform reattachment
Data Source
AI summary
A split nut and assembly steps for fitting the nut around an exposed portion of anchor bolt having no convenient access for conventional nuts to engage. The split nut includes first and second nut halves, and each nut half has an interior surface having a threaded half cylinder that, when aligned with the other threaded half cylinder and joined along joining surfaces, forms a threaded opening. The two half nuts may be connected by connectors that are inserted into penetrations that extend through at least a portion of both half nuts. At least one end of the penetration extends from the joining surface through the exterior surface of the half nut so that the connector may be inserted into the penetration. The exterior surface of both half nuts also include flat that, when the half nuts are joined, are dimensioned to form opposed parallel drive surfaces configured to be engaged by a wrench for screwing the split nut onto the bolt.