Truss Mounting Brace With Interlocking Gripping Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for installing roof trusses are hazardous and time-consuming, as workers must climb the trusses to secure temporary spacers and ensure correct spacing, leading to potential injuries and increased costs due to the need for frequent crane usage.
Innovation Solution
A truss mounting brace with a gripping mechanism that allows for interlocking engagement between trusses, eliminating the need for workers to climb and enabling precise spacing without nails or screws, while being adjustable and modular for on-site use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If workers use temporary battens or spacers to hold trusses during installation, then the trusses can be spaced and held in position, but the process becomes time-consuming and dangerous as workers must climb the trusses to attach and remove these temporary spacers
Solution Approach 1:
The truss mounting brace is divided into distinct functional segments: a mounting section for attachment to the truss, a body section containing the gripping mechanism, and a gripping section for engaging with adjacent trusses. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping mechanism is designed to automatically engage with adjacent trusses when they are positioned close together, eliminating the need for workers to manually attach temporary spacers. The mechanism self-activates through the natural movement and positioning of the trusses, thereby improving safety without sacrificing installation speed.
2Manufacturing precision
If workers manually position and secure temporary spacers on trusses, then correct spacing can be achieved, but the process requires workers to climb to great heights which is highly dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The truss mounting brace automatically maintains correct spacing between trusses through its gripping mechanism that engages with adjacent trusses. The device self-regulates the spacing without requiring worker intervention at height, thereby ensuring manufacturing precision while eliminating the harmful factor of worker injury risk from climbing.
Solution Approach 2:
The truss mounting brace acts as an intermediary device between the trusses, automatically maintaining the correct spacing relationship. It mediates the positioning process by mechanically engaging with both trusses and enforcing the correct distance, removing the need for workers to manually measure and adjust spacing at dangerous heights.
3Reliability
If temporary spacers are used to hold trusses during installation, then the trusses can be secured in position, but the spacers are usually damaged during removal and cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The truss mounting brace is designed with a permanent, robust construction that anticipates the full installation cycle from attachment to final securing. The gripping mechanism is pre-engineered to engage and disengage without damage, allowing the device to be reused across multiple truss installations while maintaining reliable positioning stability throughout the process.
4Ease of operation
If a crane is used to hold trusses during installation, then the trusses can be positioned, but the stability and accuracy are low due to weather and crane height
Solution Approach 1:
The truss mounting brace serves as a mechanical intermediary that transfers and stabilizes the positioning function from the crane to the trusses themselves. Once the crane places the truss near the correct position, the mounting brace automatically engages with adjacent trusses to precisely maintain the correct spacing, thereby improving measurement precision while keeping the operation simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The truss mounting brace is pre-installed on each truss before crane lifting, so that when the truss is positioned near the target location, the gripping mechanism is already ready to automatically engage with adjacent trusses. This preliminary preparation ensures that precision spacing is achieved immediately upon positioning without requiring additional adjustment operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A truss mounting brace (1) for use during installation of trusses (19, 21, 22). The truss mounting brace (1) may also be used as a permanent spacer between two trusses (19, 21, 22). The truss mounting brace (1) comprises a mounting section (4) arranged to be mounted on a truss (19, 21, 22), a gripping section (3) and an oblong body section (5) connecting the mounting section (4) and the gripping section (3). The gripping section (3) has a gripping mechanism (6) arranged to receive and to engage another element interlockingly. The present invention also relates to a method of installing two or more trusses, use of the truss mounting brace, and a method of manufacturing the truss mounting brace.