Wall Section Hinge Assembly for Slab Framing Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Constructing walls on concrete slabs without a fixed sill plate is difficult, leading to curvature issues and safety concerns during framing and sheathing, as traditional methods like metal strapping are ineffective for fastening to concrete.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a lower hinge plate, upper hinge plate, hinge pin, gussets, and a removable gauge that mounts to a sill plate and bottom plate, allowing a wall to be constructed horizontally and pivoted into vertical position, with integral cams and keyway system for precise alignment and rotation control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sill plate is fastened to a concrete slab, then the wall can be positioned and aligned, but the wall cannot be pivoted into place and construction becomes difficult and unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly transforms the static connection between wall and slab into a dynamic system that allows controlled movement. The hinge pin and hinge plates enable the wall to pivot from horizontal to vertical position while maintaining secure attachment, resolving the contradiction between stability and mobility during construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly changes the operational parameters of the wall installation process by enabling angular movement (0-90 degrees) during positioning. This parameter change allows the wall to be installed in a controlled manner, improving both safety and alignment compared to traditional methods.
2Productivity
If the sill plate is bowed or misaligned, then construction can proceed, but curvature propagates throughout the frame reducing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly replaces the traditional method of constructing walls on the floor and lifting them. By providing a pivoting mechanism attached to the slab, it eliminates the need for floor-based construction and subsequent lifting, thereby preventing curvature propagation while maintaining construction efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly is installed on the slab before wall construction begins, establishing a precise reference system. This preliminary action ensures that the wall frame is built with correct alignment from the start, preventing curvature issues before they can propagate through the structure.
3Ease of operation
If traditional metal strapping is used as a hinge, then the wall can be positioned, but it cannot be fastened securely to concrete slabs
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly uses composite construction combining metal components (hinge plates, hinge pin) with concrete anchorage. This composite approach provides both the flexibility needed for positioning and the strength required for secure attachment to concrete slabs, overcoming the limitations of simple metal strapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly is divided into separate functional components: hinge plates for attachment, hinge pin for pivoting, and anchorage elements for concrete connection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, providing both flexibility and strength simultaneously.
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 safe, straight, and plumb construction of walls on concrete slabs by ensuring accurate alignment and controlled rotation, improving safety and quality of the building process.
Implementation Method 1
a lower hinge plate, a hinge pin, an upper hinge plate... Once done it can be pivoted on the apparatus's hinge pin from a horizontal to a vertical position
Implementation Method 2
Gussets are right triangles that are affixed to the lower hinge plate to prevent the upper hinge plate from rotating more than 90°
Implementation Method 3
A removable gauge is joined to the lower hinge plate by a keyway and key... the gauge serves to align the hinge plates; to keep all hinge pins coaxial
Implementation Method 4
Gussets also serve to support the wall weight held by the hinge plates
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus that facilitates lifting and manipulating a wall section when building on a slab. The apparatus has a lower hinge plate, a hinge pin, an upper hinge plate, a rotational stop, a gauge and a sliding keyed joint. The apparatus is designed to be mounted to the edges of both a sill plate and a bottom plate of the wall to enable a wall to be framed and sheathed in a horizontal orientation. The bottom plate aligns with the sill plate as the wall is pivoted into its final vertical position.