Wall Anchor Splitter Catch for Bolt Removal Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixture sets for tubular metal profiles face issues with anchor release during bolt removal, leading to loss of the anchor and reduced usability, and they often compromise on tensile strength or require larger holes for installation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a splitter with a catch mechanism within the minimum bounding cylinder and barbed free ends on the anchor arms, which engage with the catch to prevent anchor detachment and maintain high tensile strength, even with low elasticity metal arms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the anchor is made of low elasticity metal to maintain high tensile strength, then the tensile strength is improved (at least 10 kN), but the anchor arms cannot sufficiently contract to prevent release during bolt removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a splitter as an intermediary component between the bolt and the anchor. The splitter includes a catch mechanism that actively engages with the anchor arms to prevent their release during bolt removal. This mediator component solves the retention problem without requiring the anchor metal to have high elasticity, thus maintaining high tensile strength while enabling easy operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The catch mechanism on the splitter is designed to preliminarily engage with the anchor arms before bolt removal occurs. This preliminary action ensures that when the bolt is removed, the anchor arms are already constrained and cannot release from the splitter. The prevention action is taken in advance, eliminating the need for elastic recovery during the removal process.
2Strength
If the anchor arms are made rigid to ensure high tensile strength, then the strength is improved, but the arms cannot deform sufficiently to allow catch engagement during anchor removal
Solution Approach 1:
The splitter acts as a mediator that provides the catch mechanism to engage with rigid anchor arms. This intermediary component enables the installation and removal process without requiring the anchor arms themselves to be flexible or deformable. The rigid arms maintain high tensile strength while the splitter's catch mechanism facilitates ease of manufacture and operation.
3Ease of operation
If the catch mechanism is positioned far from the splitter head to allow anchor insertion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the anchor arms cannot be effectively retained during removal
Solution Approach 1:
The catch mechanism is positioned at the optimal location on the splitter, utilizing the axial dimension to ensure proper engagement with the anchor arms. The catch is located sufficiently far from the splitter head to allow anchor insertion while being positioned to effectively retain the arms during removal. This dimensional positioning resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
4Ease of manufacture
If the anchor design is simplified to reduce manufacturing costs, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the anchor may rotate relative to the splitter during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric features on both the anchor arms and the splitter catch mechanism. These asymmetric elements prevent rotation of the anchor relative to the splitter during installation while maintaining a simple overall design. The asymmetric configuration ensures proper orientation without adding complex manufacturing requirements, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision.
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
Ensures the anchor remains affixed to the splitter upon bolt removal and reinsertion, maintaining high tensile strength of at least 10 kN while minimizing the hole size required for installation, thus preventing anchor loss and enhancing usability.
Implementation Method 1
The radial expansion is caused by a deformation of the metal anchor
Implementation Method 2
a wedge portion extending axially away from said sleeve portion and having at least two wedge surfaces which have a decreasing diameter away from said sleeve portion
Implementation Method 3
the free end of a respective one of said at least two arms is barbed, the barbed free end being configured to be caught in said catch
Implementation Method 4
at least two radially expandable arms extending axially away from said threaded part and configured to slide along a respective one of said at least two wedge surfaces when said anchor is urged to slide in said first direction, in particular by tightening said bolt, said arms having a free end configured to lock the anchor against said back surface upon radial expansion of said arms
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~11
Figure 12~16
AI summary
A fixture set for fixing an accessory to a wall. The fixture set comprises: a bolt; a splitter (6) having a sleeve portion (11) with a minimum bounding cylinder and a wedge portion (12) having wedge surfaces; and an integrally formed metal anchor (7) configured to be screwed to the bolt and having radially expandable arms (20) configured to slide along the wedge surfaces when said anchor (7) is urged to slide in a first direction (16). The arms (20) have a free end (24) configured to lock the anchor (7) against the wall upon radial expansion of the arms (20). The splitter (6) comprises a catch (22) which is situated entirely within the minimum bounding cylinder. The free end (24) of a respective arm is barbed and configured to be caught in the catch (22) when the anchor (7) is urged to slide in a second direction (25), opposite to the first direction (16), after having slid the anchor (7) onto the splitter (6) in the first direction (16) with the barbed free end (24) having passed the catch (22).