Wedge Set Ratchet Locking for Floor Joist Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wedge sets for fastening floor joists require additional fastening means like nails and struggle with uniform displacement due to transverse interlocking teeth, making adjustment and connection cumbersome and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
The wedge set features plane first abutment surfaces with ratchet locking means, comprising a rib with teeth on one wedge member and cooperating pawls in a groove on the other, allowing smooth adjustment and retention without additional fastening, using dovetail-formed retaining means and flexible edges for easy connection and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transverse interlocking teeth are used to retain wedge members, then retention is achieved, but uniform displacement becomes difficult and adjustment becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The retention function is segmented from the displacement function. The ratchet teeth provide one-way retention while allowing smooth displacement in the adjustment direction, separating the locking mechanism from the sliding surfaces to enable uniform displacement during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using interlocking teeth that resist displacement in both directions, the patent uses ratchet teeth that allow displacement in one direction (adjustment) while retaining in the other direction, inverting the traditional approach to achieve both uniform displacement and reliable retention.
2Reliability
If additional fastening means like nails are used, then secure connection is achieved, but device complexity and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge members combine multiple functions into a single component: they provide mechanical retention through ratchet teeth, secure connection through interlocking with floor joist grooves, and uniform displacement through smooth sliding surfaces, eliminating the need for separate fastening means like nails or screws.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge members serve multiple purposes simultaneously: they retain the expansion element, connect to floor joists, enable uniform displacement during installation, and provide secure fastening without requiring additional specialized components, achieving multi-functionality in a single element.
3Reliability
If additional fastening means are used, then secure connection is achieved, but installation time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge members are pre-formed with integrated ratchet teeth, smooth sliding surfaces, and floor joist connection features during manufacturing, allowing them to be installed as complete units without requiring separate fastening operations, thereby increasing installation speed while maintaining secure connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge members are self-retaining through their ratchet mechanism and self-connecting to floor joists through their integrated grooves and protrusions, eliminating the need for additional fastening operations and enabling rapid installation without compromising connection security.
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
Enables uniform displacement and secure retention of wedge members without additional fastening, facilitating easy adjustment and durable connection of floor joists without tools, reducing noise and risk of incorrect fastening.
Implementation Method 1
the locking means consist of ratchets. The achievement of the uniform displacement is due to the plane first abutment surfaces gliding smoothly over each other, while the locking is achieved by ratchets, the teeth of which on the first wedge member easily passes the latches or pawls on the second wedge member.
Implementation Method 2
The achievement of the uniform displacement is due to the plane first abutment surfaces gliding smoothly over each other
Implementation Method 3
In addition to the first abutment surface of the wedge members there are longitudinal grooves and ribs with a dovetail-formed cross section in the wedge set according to said patent specification. By this the wedge elements are retained in engagement with each other so that they cannot be pulled away from each other
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A wedge set for use in fastening floor joists consists of two interslidable wedge members (1, 2) adapted to abut each other along cooperating first abutment surfaces (3, 10), each wedge member (1, 2) having a second abutment surface (4, 11 ) forming an acute angle with the corresponding first abutment surface. The second abutment surfaces (4, 11 ) on the two wedge members (1, 2) of the wedge set extend substantially parallel to each other. The wedge members (1, 2) have cooperating locking means (6, 7, 13, 14), which are adapted for retaining them from a mutual displacement so that the distance between their second abutment surfaces (4, 11 ) is reduced, and retaining means (9, 15), which are adapted for retaining the first abutment surfaces (3, 10) in abutment with each other. The first abutment surfaces (3, 10) are plane and the locking means (6) consist of ratchets.