Dale E. Van Cor
info@keyedbrick.com
I have developed a technology that will use some of the 400 million
tons of global plastic waste to make a product line of construction
components that is easy for people to build with. Similar parts will
be made out of concrete.
See short YouTube video on Keyed Bricks: https://youtu.be/lPVaUMURkm0
See table on plastic waste stream composition: plasticwaste.png
A summary of the Keyed Bricks connections:techsummary.html
Overview
The new connection technology is called a Key Thread. My software
engineers these threads and applies them to construction components
that can be 3D printed. There will be 3D printed molds. Both part
and mold files will have machining software that generates the Gcode
for 5-axis tool movements. This is the foundation for making many of
the parts, molds and machinable applications. The part files are be
uploaded to Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for optimizing their
design. I have done all of this before on three other new threads
that I could not commercialized.
There will be a series of keyed bricks make with minimum tech for the
purpose of making basic building components all over the world.
Currently there are are bricks being made with six parts sand, one
part used plastic that are mixed, heated and pressurized. see
https://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/kenyan-woman-recycles-plastic-into-bricks-that-are-stronger-than-concrete/
I believe that Keyed Bricks can be made with muti-part molds by such a
business. This will have the biggest impact on carbon capture by
making it accessible everywhere.
There are three types of construction components: Keyed BrickTM Keyed CellTM
and Keyed PlyTM. The Keyed Brick builds walls with horizontal connections. The Keyed Cell is a multi layer
component that assembles into flat or dome KeyedcombsTM.
The Keyed Ply is a sandwich layer that assembles into flat Keyed
PanelsTM or curved Keyed TubesTM.
The goal is to make plastic injection Keyed Brick construction
components that include wall intersections and corners; window and
door frames; Keyedcomb joist will make the floor and ceiling covered
with Keyed Panel subfloor and ceiling.
There are US patent pending; PCT patent filing in Canada and EPO.
Basics
The Key Thread profile has a front or back wedge shape that adds a unique
“hook” with a more spherical resistance. Because of that
hook, Key Threads can be applied to cylinder, cone or disk shapes;
and follow the curves of a convex, concave and other surfaces. The
Key Thread constantly increases in size. When engaging, it is loose
and then all surfaces engage at that the same instant. The
difference between the male and female surfaces is fabrication
tolerance.
See article in the American Fastener Journal: https://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?m=7618&i=748416&p=42&ver=html5
A 4 minute video: https://keyedbrick.com/Basic
Keyed Brick 4.5.mp4
Key Threads are grouped in a set with a common axis of rotation. While a
part can have multiple sets, it can have only turn on sets with one
axis of rotation. Other sets have to be engaged with the rotation of
a different parts. The effect is each part locks the last part in
place. When at least two different sets engage with three parts,
they form a KeynectionTM. Key threads and multi-axail rotation are two interlocking fastening
systems that eliminate cement, adhesives or welding.
The starting product lines are the Keyed Bricks, Keyed Cells and Keyed
Plys. The Keyed Bricks have disk threads on the top and bottom; and
cylinder threads on the ends. Keyed Cells make honeycomb-like
structures using cylinder or cone threads. Keyed Plys are layers of
disk threads similar to plywood. It has a base and finished layer
with multiple sandwich layers between.
A standard Keyed Brick can be modified for a vertical curve or
horizontal curve to build arched or rounded walls.
The standard Keyed brick rotates on an XY Plane. Other configurations
rotate on an XZ plane and YZ plane. These are either aesthetic
design choices or configured where the standard Keyed Brick does not
fit, is hard to assemble or needs more strength relative to how
stresses are distributed.
Keyed CellsTM
The Keyed Cell is similar to a honeycomb cell and so named. They
assemble into KeyedcombsTM.
It looks similar to two offset honeycombs. Each cell is a full male
threaded cylinder on the bottom and four partial female threaded
cylinders on the top. When assembled, the quartered female sections
create a whole female thread for the next layer. These can be
cylinder or cones. The parts are identical, but not necessarily
assembled in sequence.
Keyed Cells made from cones create a Keyed Circular TrussTM.
This is a different kind of structure similar to the cross section
of a linear truss where each triangle is replaced by a cone. It
distributes stress three dimensionally, not two dimensionally like a
bridge truss. These have not been made yet, but will be better
solution for structural framing of floors, ceiling and roofs.
A Keyed SpireTM is a spherical type of Keyed Cell used to make multi-layered Keyed
Domes, vaulted ceilings or tunnel sections. Each layer is a
different Spire relative to the domes radius at that layer. Keyed Spires will have 5 partial female
cylinders that generate a pentagon pattern like Geodesic domes. They
are specifically designed by layer and radii. These parts are
non-sequential.
A cylinder Spire is possible, but with many specialized Spires in sequence. Whereas the dome is
one Spire per layers without sequence.
Keyed PlysTM
The Keyed Plys is a sheet of disk threads that assemble into a Keyed PanelTM.
The starting layer is made relative to how it is going to be
fastened. The sandwiched layers are in alternating pairs. Their
number determines net strength. The finished layer can be outside
siding; flooring or sub-flooring; or smooth walls ready to paint.
Roof and siding will need UV treatment. The bottom is a unique base
layer, then identical multiple sandwich layers, and the unique top
finished layers all assembled in sequence.
Circular Keyed Plys assemble into a Keyed TubeTM.
These will reduce the time assembling large pipes in place without
heavy equipment. The tunnel construction would be very close to the
removal of material. These can be plastic or concrete, but the
plastic will be cheaper, faster and easier to work with. They are
assembled in sequence.
A plyed dome is possible, but with many specialized plys also in sequence.
Development
The science of creating Key Thread Profiles and Rails with the version 3
software is operational. The Profile is a forward or backward wedge
shape. The Rail is a collection of base points for each profile
around a given geometry like cylinder, cone or disk. A profile is
generated for each base point on the Rail at an expanded size from
the previous profile to render a Key Thread Train. That Key Thread
Train is used to generate the female Lock Thread Train with a given
fabrication tolerance. Experience has shown that it has to be easy
to generate Lock Threads for different material or fabrication
tolerances. The Key is fixed, the Lock makes it work.
The application is two parts. The male Key Thread Train are boundary
coordinates used to make a female Lock Train offset with a given
fabrication tolerance. A Thread Train is be applied to two Sets, one
set has a Key and the other set has Lock created to engage that Key.
Sets are one or more Thread Trains with a common access of rotation
on a geometry.
Bricks, Cells and Plys are formed from these sets. A fundamental point: the
sets define the geometry. In other words, a cylinder set will have
the rest of the cylinder surface added to it. The Key Threads drive
the design.
The same Rail can be applied to different size Profiles. A plastic brick
will be larger then concrete, which will be larger then a metal one.
The difference is mechanical properties of the material such as
flexibility, hardness and strength. Finite Element Analysis software
will be used to optimize the thread design. The focus will be on
recycled plastic, but the tools will be in place for more.
Transition bricks such as concrete to plastic are another catalog. This
includes attaching Keyedcombs and Keyedpanels. The stronger material
will be the transition with sets from both.
This is where structural engineering starts. Material properties are
known, what does the Key Thread add or change to resistance? Failure
has to be predictable across different materials. <
First Products
My original plan was to invest in injection molding that could use
recycled plastics. The problem is it is still an idea without a
product. I can 3D print models, but that is not commercial viable.
The easiest way forward is to make the molds for concrete parts. A
Keyed Brick would have 4 or 5 piece mold that would unscrew the
threads out of the sides. This is the development path to
commercially viability by being able to make and build a Keyed Brick
house.
There are other Key Thread markets such as steel truss systems for towers,
buildings, and bridges could be easier and quicker to profit. The
main advantage is the speed of assembly reducing labor costs. It
would replace the wooden scaffolds used in curing concrete floors.
Linear steel trusses are well known. What is new is adding the
connection to existing parts. See bridge truss assembly video:
https://www.keyedbrick.com/truss
assembly 1.2.mp4 This is an example of an application someone else can develop.
Producing 4-axis CNC machining capacity will be part of this work for making
parts and molds. One offshoot is a portable milling machine for that
could cut stone anywhere.
Dale E. Van Cor Bio
My first career was writing 57 turn key software systems for 28
customers. The largest was distribution system for 7,000 hard goods
and dated feed stock. The most complex was cost projection system
used on parts with up to 34 steps, job runs up to 7 million for over
100 million in sales. Multi-state
payrolls for thousands; Millions of copies of a national monthly
video newspaper to thousands of stores; Tens of millions of records
of the daily production of chemical in manufacturing processes;
Recycling business for purchasing, processioning and shipping metals,
paper and glass; and more. Every system was a graduate course on the
flow of creating, timing and archiving information.
My second career was spent trying to commercialize an idea. I invented and patented new gears
and transmission systems. The software included producing the Gcode
for 5-axis CNC machining to make a 4-speed and 8-speed
prototypes. My gears could not be cut with conventional manufacturing
equipment. The transmission changed speeds within one rotation which
limited it to low speed applications. The worst part was it would
cost tens of millions to create the engineering tools to predict failure.
That is why I used Finite Element Analysis (FEA) on my threads to prove
an even distribution loads. See Van Cor Transmission:
vancortransmission.png
The Key Threads are my forth thread. The Conic Thread, Concentric Thread and Wave Thread have patents issued, software systems for engineering and fabrication, and commercial applications explored. The Wave Threaded nuts and bolts software included generating Gcode for 4-axis CNC machining. The Wave Threads on the nuts and bolts could be up to 25% stronger by evenly distributing loads. But, the rest of the bolt did not have that additional strength. It was not commercially viable enough. My goal was to find a big impact. See summary on Wave Threads nuts and bolts: TitaninumWaveThreadedFastening.pdf
That file has a link to standard and wave threaded nut and bolt stl files
that can be downloaded and used for Finite Element Analysis or
printed for destructive testing. It is also an important view of how
I make parts at a resoultion of 40 microns.
Personal info: Married 35 years to Wanda who would only marry an interesting
person. We have three kids. Meggan and her husband Eric have two
teenagers. Sara and Jared are single scientists. I swim 20 laps
three times a week and have exercised for decades due to a family
history of heart disease. My father died after his sixth heart attack.
An Echocardiogram in August, 2022 showed my heart is normal.
Creating the Future
I have new connection tools with applications beyond my imagination. I
want them to become available to people with a unique use for them.
That includes patent ownership via partnerships and licensing. This
would be better administrated through a global company that already
does something similar.
I have a US patent pending and PCT patent to be filed in Canada and
European Patent Office. This is at my financial limit. The PCT
international patent window for the rest of the world closes at the
end of March. It will take $500,000 for global patenting filing.
My Investments
I started full time in 2008 with the goal of finding commercial
applications to these four threaded concepts. Each required the
development of menu driven software to engineering and fabricate
parts to test and evaluate its potential. I have 3 out of the last
6 patents issued, 4 software systems for engineering, 3D printing and
4-axis machining. The Van Cor Threads, LLC formed in 2014 is for
accounting of over $300,000 expenditures as of Dec. 2021.
This is a summary of what I am am moving forward with my personal
resources. While I believe Keyed Bricks made from plastic composites
would be of global impact, I will start with cement bricks. I have 3D
printed bricks, but they are not a product. I can 3D print molds to
make the first cement products.
I have started a small fire. I am only interested in people who want to dump gasoline on it.