Tapered Spigot-Socket Connector for Fast Modular Steel Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional 'stick-built' structural steel systems require significant site time and increased transport costs due to large individual steel members, necessitating a modular structure that reduces transport size and volume while maintaining minimal site erection time.
Innovation Solution
A structural connector featuring a spigot and socket configuration with tapered portions, allowing for efficient connection and self-centering of structural members, utilizing metal additive manufacturing for precise tolerances and high-strength materials like stainless steel or titanium, enabling reduced transport volume and rapid assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional stick-built structural steel systems are used, then individual steel members can be easily fabricated and connected, but site erection time increases and transport costs increase due to large individual members
Solution Approach 1:
The structural system is divided into modular components (nodes and members) that can be pre-assembled into compact units. These modules are designed to be transportable in smaller volumes while maintaining structural integrity, thus reducing transport costs and enabling faster on-site assembly compared to traditional stick-built methods
Solution Approach 2:
The spigot is designed with a tapered configuration that nests into a corresponding tapered socket at the node. This nesting mechanism allows members to be inserted and secured within the modular node structure, enabling rapid connection without extensive on-site fabrication or alignment work, thereby reducing site erection time
2Loss of time
If large pre-fabricated structures are transported, then site time is minimized, but transport costs and logistics increase
Solution Approach 1:
The structure is segmented into modular nodes and members that can be compactly packaged for transport. This segmentation allows the structure to be broken down into smaller, more transportable units that occupy less volume during transit, while still enabling rapid on-site assembly through the tapered spigot-socket connection system
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered spigot-socket connection mechanism enables three-dimensional assembly of modular components. This dimensional approach allows compact storage and transport of individual modules, which can then be efficiently assembled in 3D space at the construction site, optimizing both transport volume and assembly speed
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a structural connector comprising at least one spigot and at least one socket wherein at least a portion of the at least one spigot is tapered and at least a portion of the at least one socket is a complimentary tapered configuration.