Truss Pin Holder with Tethered Retention for Assembly Integrity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Truss structures face challenges in rapid assembly due to potential packaging errors with pins, leading to incomplete sets and increased assembly time, and workers risk damaging or losing pins during assembly, especially when working at heights.

Innovation Solution

Integrating a pin holder with tethers and a spring-loaded retractable reel into the truss assembly to securely store and manage pins, ensuring the correct quantity is shipped and preventing pin loss or damage, with magnetic ferromagnetic pins for secure retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If pins are packaged separately with truss assemblies at storage facilities, then truss assemblies can be shipped to venues, but packaging errors occur leading to incorrect quantities or missing pin packages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshipping capabilityVSAvoidpin quantity accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pin holder is integrated directly into the truss assembly structure, merging the pin storage function with the truss body. This ensures pins are always packaged correctly with their corresponding truss assembly and eliminates packaging errors at storage facilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The correct number of pins are pre-loaded into the pin holder at the factory before shipping. This preliminary action ensures that when the truss assembly arrives at the venue, the pins are already in place and ready for use, eliminating the need for separate packaging and reducing errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If workers manually handle pins during assembly, then truss structures can be constructed, but pins may be damaged or lost especially when working at heights

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly capabilityVSAvoidpin retention

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pin holder is integrated into the truss assembly, combining pin storage and retrieval with the structural component. This eliminates the need for workers to separately handle and transport pins, reducing the risk of damage or loss during assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pin holder acts as an intermediary between the truss assembly and the pins, providing a secure storage location that prevents pins from being dropped or damaged during handling. The holder mediates the interaction between workers and pins, reducing direct manual handling risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If pins are not securely retained during transport and assembly, then truss assemblies can be moved and assembled, but pins may slip from hands and fall to the ground

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidpin replacement time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pin holder is integrated into the truss assembly structure, ensuring pins remain securely retained during transport and assembly operations. This eliminates pin loss and the associated time waste for replacement or retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pin holder provides beforehand protection for pins during transport and assembly, preventing them from slipping or falling before they can cause problems. This prior cushioning ensures pins are secure throughout the entire process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

Facilitates efficient and rapid assembly by ensuring the correct number of pins is always available, reducing assembly time and minimizing pin damage or loss, thereby enhancing the structural integrity and safety of the truss structure.

Implementation Method 1

The tether may be wound in a spring loaded retractable reel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring mechanism: Spring

Implementation Method 2

with magnetic ferromagnetic pins for secure retention

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS9909299B2Truss assembly and method of constructing a truss structure

Publication Date: 2018.03.06 CHRISTIE LITES ENTERPRISES CANADA

AI summary

Pins are stored on a truss body and are used to secure connections between separate truss bodies when creating a truss structure, which itself may act as a support for displays, lighting systems, and/or sound systems. Each of the pins is tethered to a pin holder so as not to be lost or damaged. The pin holder retains the pins on the truss body and thereby reduces the likelihood of collisions that occur between the tethered pins and truss members while the truss assembly is in transit. This in turn increases the likelihood that the structural integrity of the pins, the truss members and the tether is maintained during transit. The pin holder and tether allow the correct number of pins to be shipped to the venue where the truss structure is to be constructed.