CN103243649A - System and method for quickly installing and positioning cable saddle - Google Patents

System and method for quickly installing and positioning cable saddle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN103243649A
CN103243649A CN2013101902319A CN201310190231A CN103243649A CN 103243649 A CN103243649 A CN 103243649A CN 2013101902319 A CN2013101902319 A CN 2013101902319A CN 201310190231 A CN201310190231 A CN 201310190231A CN 103243649 A CN103243649 A CN 103243649A
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
cable saddle
stiff skeleton
flange
bolt
stiff
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CN2013101902319A
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Other versions
CN103243649B (en
Inventor
周拥军
吴浩
荣劲松
陈国良
吴文峰
刘宇峰
黎彦
詹文讯
陈鸣
黄国忠
王爱溪
蔡祺锋
周宇
赖学海
赵耀璞
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Co Ltd
No 1 Engineering Co Ltd of CCCC First Harbor Engineering Co Ltd
Original Assignee
CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Co Ltd
No 1 Engineering Co Ltd of CCCC First Harbor Engineering Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Co Ltd, No 1 Engineering Co Ltd of CCCC First Harbor Engineering Co Ltd filed Critical CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Co Ltd
Priority to CN201310190231.9A priority Critical patent/CN103243649B/en
Publication of CN103243649A publication Critical patent/CN103243649A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CN103243649B publication Critical patent/CN103243649B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Abstract

The invention discloses a system for quickly installing and positioning a cable saddle. The system comprises a stiff framework prefabricated by a plurality sections, a cable saddle installing pedestal, a hoisting device, flange plates, bolts and nuts, wherein the stiff framework comprises four vertical rods and connecting cross pieces transversely connected among the vertical rods, the cable saddle installing pedestal is detachably connected with the prefabricated stiff framework, the cable saddle is installed and fixed by the stiff framework through a fixing mechanism, and a three-dimensional coordinate of the cable saddle is adjusted through an adjusting device. The hoisting device hoists the stiff framework where the cable saddle is installed to a stiff framework pre-installed in a tower column. Adjacent sections forming the stiff framework are connected and fixed through the flange plates, the bolts and the nuts. The invention further discloses a method for quickly installing and positioning the cable saddle by utilizing the system. An existing construction process for separation and assembly of the engineering stiff framework and the cable saddle is changed, one-time in-plate installation of the cable saddle and the stiff framework is achieved through integral prefabrication, positioning is accurate, adjustment is simple and convenient, operation is safe, and the construction effect is remarkable.

Description

The system and method for a kind of cable saddle Fast Installation, location
Technical field
The present invention relates to the system of a kind of cable saddle Fast Installation, location, relate in particular to the method that the cable stayed bridge cable saddle is installed, located that is applied to.
Background technology
Suspension cable is the tie that connects king-tower and girder, and cable saddle is as the steering component of suspension cable, mild transition when making suspension cable pass king-post, the flexural stress when reducing suspension cable and passing through king-post, and will be delivered on the king-post through dead load, the mobile load of suspension cable, be one of key member of full-bridge.The cable saddle location will definitely not cause that suspension cable and the cable saddle mouth of pipe friction take place and damage suspension cable, influence workmanship and the service life that reduces suspension cable.
The domestic cable stayed bridge king-tower cable saddle construction stiff skeletons that adopt separate mounting technique with cable saddle more: pre-buried shaped steel in the king-post work progress, when constructing to the cable saddle zone in king-post the welding fabrication stiff skeleton; Measurement and positioning also welds cable saddle and supports; The lifting cable saddle is to stiff skeleton cable saddle Support Position; Measure and adjust and reinforce.Adopt stiff skeleton to separate mounting technique with cable saddle, cable saddle and stiff skeleton are installed adjusted one-time-reach-place, the on-the-spot welding of stiff skeleton and cable saddle measurement and positioning spended time are long, and complicated operation and have more security risk influences the site operation effect.
Summary of the invention
The objective of the invention is to solve existing stiff skeleton and separate the problem that mounting technique exists with cable saddle, a kind of system that is applicable to cable stayed bridge cable saddle Fast Installation, location is provided.
To achieve these goals, the present invention has adopted following technical scheme: a kind of cable saddle Fast Installation, navigation system, it is characterized in that: comprise the stiff skeleton that some joints are prefabricated, described stiff skeleton comprises four vertical rods, is laterally connected in four connection supports between the vertical rod; And the cable saddle installed base, removably being connected with described stiff skeleton, this joint stiff skeleton installs and fixes cable saddle, three-dimensional coordinate by adjusting device adjusting cable saddle by fixed mechanism; And the stiff skeleton that cable saddle is installed risen winch in the king-post boom hoisting of mounted stiff skeleton in advance; And the flange that the stiff skeleton of adjacent segment is connected and fixed and bolt, nut.
The stiff skeleton of adjacent segment interconnects with bolt by a pair of flange, and bolt passes described flange, and the opposite side of flange and dorsal part mutually respectively with lock nut with regulate fixed by nut.
Described fixed mechanism comprises " door " cabinet frame that forms with the shaped steel welding, described " door " cabinet frame partly surrounds in cable saddle, and Open Side Down, and " door " cabinet frame vertical direction and cable saddle are closely connected, horizontal direction and cable saddle lateral surface leave regulates the gap, and horizontal direction is equipped with the adjusting bolt.
Described adjusting device for adjustment cable saddle three-dimensional coordinate comprises adjusting nut and lock nut and cable saddle " door " the cabinet frame place adjusting bolt between adjacent two joint stiff skeleton flange.
A kind of cable saddle Fast Installation, localization method, it may further comprise the steps:
(1) prefabricated stiff skeleton, stiff skeleton adopts shaped steel as its vertical rod, adopts channel-section steel (or being other shaped steel) as connecting support and diagonal brace, to make a joint between the vertical rod at every turn, every restraining is made height and is determined that according to king-post merogenesis height every joint is the guiding of next joint;
(2) the prefabricated stiff skeleton of finishing goes to the cable saddle installed base, measure according to cable saddle and this joint stiff skeleton relative position, the welding of cable saddle position is supported on stiff skeleton, cable saddle is installed, on stiff skeleton, weld fixedly cable saddle of " door " cabinet frame with shaped steel, " door " cabinet frame vertical direction and cable saddle are closely connected, horizontal direction and cable saddle lateral surface leave regulates the gap, horizontal direction is equipped with the adjusting bolt, the stiff skeleton internode and and the cable saddle installed base between the connecting portion welding flange, the stiff skeleton internode interconnects with bolt by flange, arranges on the bolt to regulate nut and lock nut;
(3) the prefabricated stiff skeleton of finishing and cable saddle pass through the boom hoisting integral hoisting to king-post, interconnect with bolt by flange with the stiff skeleton of finishing of having constructed in the king-post, survey crew is measured the three-dimensional coordinate of cable saddle, regulate nut, lock nut and cable saddle " door " cabinet frame place between two joint stiff skeleton flange and regulate three-dimensional coordinate that bolt adjusts cable saddle until meeting design requirement by adjusting, weld fixedly cable saddle and skeleton at last.
Described stiff skeleton precast pedestal is made of relatively two measure-alike fixed end moulds, and described fixed end mould is provided with the structure that can fix described stiff skeleton vertical rod, and stiff skeleton vertical rod cross binding is between described fixed end mould.
The characteristics that the present invention has are to have changed engineering stiff skeleton in the past separates installation with cable saddle construction technology, by integral prefabricated cable saddle and stiff skeleton, realize that cable saddle and stiff skeleton once mounting put in place, accurate positioning, adjust easy, handling safety, construction effect is remarkable.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1 is prefabricated strength shape skeleton schematic diagram on fixed end mould pedestal.
Fig. 2 is stiff skeleton internode connection diagram, and wherein Fig. 2 a is A enlarged drawing among Fig. 1; Fig. 2 b is that the B of Fig. 2 a is to view; Fig. 2 c is that the C of Fig. 2 a is to view.
Fig. 3 is installed in schematic diagram on the stiff skeleton to cable saddle at the cable saddle installed base.
Fig. 4 is stiff skeleton contour structures schematic diagram, and wherein, Fig. 4 a is the front schematic view of stiff skeleton; The D of Fig. 4 a that Fig. 4 b is is to view; Fig. 4 c is that the E of Fig. 4 b is to view.
Fig. 5 is cable saddle and stiff skeleton integral installation schematic diagram.
Wherein, 2 vertical rods 2.1 of fixed end mould 1 stiff skeleton connect support 2.2 diagonal braces 2.3 flange 4 bolts 5 adjusting nuts 6 lock nuts 7 cable saddle installed bases 8 cable saddles 9 cable saddles support 10 " door " cabinet frame 11 horizontal directions adjusting bolt 12
The specific embodiment
The system of a kind of cable saddle Fast Installation, location, linkage, cable saddle installed base 8 and boom hoisting that it comprises the prefabricated stiff skeleton of some joints 2, the stiff skeleton of adjacent segment is connected and fixed.
Specifically, shown in each figure of Fig. 4, described stiff skeleton comprises four vertical rods 2.1, is laterally connected in connection support 2.2 and diagonal brace 2.3 between the vertical rod.This stiff skeleton is used for cable saddle is played support and fixation.As shown in Figure 2, the stiff skeleton of adjacent segment adopts flange 4, bolt 5, adjusting nut 6 to be connected with lock nut 7.
As shown in Figure 3, cable saddle installed base 8 removably is connected with described stiff skeleton, and the cable saddle installed base has for the structure that supports stiff skeleton, and is connected with stiff skeleton vertical rod bottom by bolt, adjusting nut and lock nut.
Mounting method is as follows:
Prefabricated stiff skeleton.As shown in Figure 1, the stiff skeleton precast pedestal is made of relatively two measure-alike fixed end moulds 1, stiff skeleton adopts i iron (or being other shaped steel) as its vertical rod 2.1, adopt channel-section steel (or being other shaped steel) as connecting support 2.2 and diagonal brace 2.3, each joint of making, every restraining is made height and is determined that according to king-post merogenesis height every joint is the guiding of next joint.The stiff skeleton internode connects as shown in Figure 2, every joint stiff skeleton bottom and top and upper and lower joint stiff skeleton connecting portion welding flange 4, and the stiff skeleton internode interconnects with bolt 5 by flange, arranges on the bolt to regulate nut 6 and lock nut 7.
The prefabricated stiff skeleton of finishing goes to cable saddle installed base 8, as Fig. 3, measure according to cable saddle 9 and this joint stiff skeleton relative position, the welding of cable saddle position supports 10 on stiff skeleton, cable saddle is installed, weld fixedly cable saddle of " door " cabinet frame 11 with shaped steel on stiff skeleton, " door " cabinet frame vertical direction and cable saddle are closely connected, and horizontal direction then leaves adjust the play with the cable saddle outside.Horizontal direction is installed and is regulated bolt 12, and stiff skeleton contour structures schematic diagram is shown in Fig. 4 (shadow region is cable saddle).
The prefabricated stiff skeleton of finishing and cable saddle pass through the boom hoisting integral hoisting to king-post, the stiff skeleton of finishing interconnects by flange 4 usefulness bolts 5 with having constructed in the king-post, as shown in Figure 5, survey crew is measured the three-dimensional coordinate of cable saddle, regulates nut between two joint stiff skeleton flange and 6. 7. reaches cable saddle " door " cabinet frame place adjusting bolt 12 with lock nut and adjust the three-dimensional coordinate of cable saddle until meeting design requirement by adjusting; Welding at last is cable saddle and skeleton fixedly.

Claims (6)

1. a cable saddle Fast Installation, navigation system is characterized in that: comprise
The stiff skeleton that some joints are prefabricated, described stiff skeleton comprise four vertical rods, are laterally connected in the connection support between the vertical rod; And
The cable saddle installed base removably is connected with described stiff skeleton, and this joint stiff skeleton installs and fixes cable saddle, regulates the three-dimensional coordinate of cable saddle by adjusting device by fixed mechanism; And
The stiff skeleton that cable saddle is installed risen winch in the king-post boom hoisting of mounted stiff skeleton in advance; And
The flange that the stiff skeleton of adjacent segment is connected and fixed and bolt, nut.
2. cable saddle Fast Installation according to claim 1, navigation system, it is characterized in that: the stiff skeleton of adjacent segment interconnects with bolt by a pair of flange, bolt passes described flange, and the opposite side of flange and dorsal part mutually respectively with lock nut with regulate fixed by nut.
3. cable saddle Fast Installation according to claim 1, navigation system, it is characterized in that: described fixed mechanism comprises " door " cabinet frame that forms with the shaped steel welding, described " door " cabinet frame partly surrounds in cable saddle, Open Side Down, " door " cabinet frame vertical direction and cable saddle are closely connected, horizontal direction and cable saddle lateral surface leave regulates the gap, and horizontal direction is equipped with the adjusting bolt.
4. cable saddle Fast Installation according to claim 3, navigation system is characterized in that: describedly comprise adjusting nut and lock nut and cable saddle " door " cabinet frame place adjusting bolt between adjacent two joint stiff skeleton flange for the adjusting device of adjusting the cable saddle three-dimensional coordinate.
5. a cable saddle Fast Installation, localization method is characterized in that adopting and realize as the arbitrary described system of claim 1~4 and by following steps:
(1) prefabricated stiff skeleton, stiff skeleton adopts shaped steel as its vertical rod, adopts channel-section steel (or being other shaped steel) as connecting support and diagonal brace, to make a joint between the vertical rod at every turn, every restraining is made height and is determined that according to king-post merogenesis height every joint is the guiding of next joint;
(2) the prefabricated stiff skeleton of finishing goes to the cable saddle installed base, measure according to cable saddle and this joint stiff skeleton relative position, the welding of cable saddle position is supported on stiff skeleton, cable saddle is installed, on stiff skeleton, weld fixedly cable saddle of " door " cabinet frame with shaped steel, " door " cabinet frame vertical direction and cable saddle are closely connected, horizontal direction and cable saddle lateral surface leave regulates the gap, horizontal direction is equipped with the adjusting bolt, the stiff skeleton internode and and the cable saddle installed base between the connecting portion welding flange, the stiff skeleton internode interconnects with bolt by flange, arranges on the bolt to regulate nut and lock nut;
(3) the prefabricated stiff skeleton of finishing and cable saddle pass through the boom hoisting integral hoisting to king-post, interconnect with bolt by flange with the stiff skeleton of finishing of having constructed in the king-post, survey crew is measured the three-dimensional coordinate of cable saddle, regulate nut, lock nut and cable saddle " door " cabinet frame place between two joint stiff skeleton flange and regulate three-dimensional coordinate that bolt adjusts cable saddle until meeting design requirement by adjusting, weld fixedly cable saddle and skeleton at last.
6. method according to claim 5, it is characterized in that: described stiff skeleton precast pedestal is made of relatively two measure-alike fixed end moulds, described fixed end mould is provided with the structure that can fix described stiff skeleton vertical rod, and stiff skeleton vertical rod cross binding is between described fixed end mould.
CN201310190231.9A 2013-05-21 2013-05-21 The system and method for a kind of cable saddle Fast Installation, location Active CN103243649B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201310190231.9A CN103243649B (en) 2013-05-21 2013-05-21 The system and method for a kind of cable saddle Fast Installation, location

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201310190231.9A CN103243649B (en) 2013-05-21 2013-05-21 The system and method for a kind of cable saddle Fast Installation, location

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN103243649A true CN103243649A (en) 2013-08-14
CN103243649B CN103243649B (en) 2015-07-29

Family

ID=48923501

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CN201310190231.9A Active CN103243649B (en) 2013-05-21 2013-05-21 The system and method for a kind of cable saddle Fast Installation, location

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CN (1) CN103243649B (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106544959A (en) * 2016-12-12 2017-03-29 中铁大桥局集团有限公司 The construction method of the lifting sections of the king-tower containing saddle and bridge main tower saddle
CN107881914A (en) * 2017-12-15 2018-04-06 中交第二航务工程局有限公司 A kind of sub-wire tube type rope saddle back court assembled positioner and assembly method
CN108487064A (en) * 2018-03-09 2018-09-04 济南城建集团有限公司 Separate installment main cable saddle of suspension bridge seat construction method
CN110184919A (en) * 2019-04-26 2019-08-30 安徽省公路桥梁工程有限公司 The construction method of short leaning tower cable saddle locating system
CN110863432A (en) * 2019-11-26 2020-03-06 上海市基础工程集团有限公司 Rapid and accurate positioning method for steel structure tower column installation construction
CN112064514A (en) * 2020-09-14 2020-12-11 浙江交工金筑交通建设有限公司 Cable saddle rigid structure and integral positioning and mounting method thereof
CN113443554A (en) * 2021-07-07 2021-09-28 上海振华重工(集团)股份有限公司 Method for correcting flatness of upper opening flange of container crane upright post

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001200509A (en) * 1999-11-09 2001-07-27 Se Corp Method and structure for stretching cable at cable saddle portion, and the cable and bridge
CN201183933Y (en) * 2008-03-14 2009-01-21 上海市政工程设计研究总院 Cable saddle for rope-suspension bridge tower top
CN101412489A (en) * 2008-11-20 2009-04-22 中铁二局股份有限公司 Method for traversing cable saddle of large tonnage cable crane
CN201458588U (en) * 2009-06-10 2010-05-12 中铁十三局集团第一工程有限公司 Combination-type movable cable saddle of cable crane
KR20110111907A (en) * 2010-04-06 2011-10-12 케이블텍 주식회사 Saddle assembly
CN102808380A (en) * 2012-08-21 2012-12-05 广西壮族自治区公路桥梁工程总公司 Cable saddle transverse moving system and cable saddle transverse moving construction method
CN202730650U (en) * 2012-07-18 2013-02-13 成都市新筑路桥机械股份有限公司 Main cable saddle used for bridge
CN203429556U (en) * 2013-05-21 2014-02-12 中交四航局第一工程有限公司 System for quickly installing and positioning cable saddle

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2001200509A (en) * 1999-11-09 2001-07-27 Se Corp Method and structure for stretching cable at cable saddle portion, and the cable and bridge
CN201183933Y (en) * 2008-03-14 2009-01-21 上海市政工程设计研究总院 Cable saddle for rope-suspension bridge tower top
CN101412489A (en) * 2008-11-20 2009-04-22 中铁二局股份有限公司 Method for traversing cable saddle of large tonnage cable crane
CN201458588U (en) * 2009-06-10 2010-05-12 中铁十三局集团第一工程有限公司 Combination-type movable cable saddle of cable crane
KR20110111907A (en) * 2010-04-06 2011-10-12 케이블텍 주식회사 Saddle assembly
CN202730650U (en) * 2012-07-18 2013-02-13 成都市新筑路桥机械股份有限公司 Main cable saddle used for bridge
CN102808380A (en) * 2012-08-21 2012-12-05 广西壮族自治区公路桥梁工程总公司 Cable saddle transverse moving system and cable saddle transverse moving construction method
CN203429556U (en) * 2013-05-21 2014-02-12 中交四航局第一工程有限公司 System for quickly installing and positioning cable saddle

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106544959A (en) * 2016-12-12 2017-03-29 中铁大桥局集团有限公司 The construction method of the lifting sections of the king-tower containing saddle and bridge main tower saddle
CN106544959B (en) * 2016-12-12 2018-05-29 中铁大桥局集团有限公司 The construction method of king-tower lifting segment and bridge main tower saddle containing saddle
CN107881914A (en) * 2017-12-15 2018-04-06 中交第二航务工程局有限公司 A kind of sub-wire tube type rope saddle back court assembled positioner and assembly method
CN107881914B (en) * 2017-12-15 2023-09-12 中交第二航务工程局有限公司 Wire-dividing tube type cable saddle back field assembly type positioning device and assembly method
CN108487064A (en) * 2018-03-09 2018-09-04 济南城建集团有限公司 Separate installment main cable saddle of suspension bridge seat construction method
CN108487064B (en) * 2018-03-09 2019-06-25 济南城建集团有限公司 Separate installment main cable saddle of suspension bridge seat construction method
CN110184919A (en) * 2019-04-26 2019-08-30 安徽省公路桥梁工程有限公司 The construction method of short leaning tower cable saddle locating system
CN110184919B (en) * 2019-04-26 2020-09-15 安徽省公路桥梁工程有限公司 Construction method of low leaning tower cable saddle positioning system
CN110863432A (en) * 2019-11-26 2020-03-06 上海市基础工程集团有限公司 Rapid and accurate positioning method for steel structure tower column installation construction
CN112064514A (en) * 2020-09-14 2020-12-11 浙江交工金筑交通建设有限公司 Cable saddle rigid structure and integral positioning and mounting method thereof
CN113443554A (en) * 2021-07-07 2021-09-28 上海振华重工(集团)股份有限公司 Method for correcting flatness of upper opening flange of container crane upright post
CN113443554B (en) * 2021-07-07 2023-11-07 上海振华重工(集团)股份有限公司 Correction method for flatness of upper opening flange of upright post of container crane

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN103243649B (en) 2015-07-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN103243649A (en) System and method for quickly installing and positioning cable saddle
CN102561712B (en) Precise positioning frame for large steel columns and equipment foundation fixing bolts and construction method of precise positioning frame
JP6752160B2 (en) Mobile work vehicle
CN105586833B (en) Stiff skeleton steel reinforcement cage global formation large-scale cast-in-place tall pier and thin wall construction method
CN205857032U (en) The toughened internal stress Construction Support device that a kind of floor stand combines with shelf bracket
CN103103925B (en) Combined H-shaped steel column bracket
CN103711082B (en) The cross-saddle single-track traffic construction method of overhead section
CN107336346A (en) A kind of beam making bench
CN107842131A (en) A kind of combining structure and its installation method of steel plate shear force wall and steel column
CN110629691A (en) Totally-enclosed sound barrier structure for noise reduction engineering of high-speed railway
CN201962608U (en) Adjustable viaduct concrete anti-collision guardrail template supporting device
KR101335382B1 (en) Constrution method of Prestressed Composite Truss girder with internal hinge structure
CN215925691U (en) Bearing support for casting No. 0 block of bridge
CN203429556U (en) System for quickly installing and positioning cable saddle
CN205257790U (en) Fixed high -low leg handle portal crane
CN203199913U (en) Assembling and disassembling type hoisting truss
CN105317052A (en) Tower crane foundation bolt fixing method
CN106759457A (en) The installation method of cantilever design high-accuracy built-in fitting
CN106906750B (en) Multi-functional across the railway line swing bridge girder closing construction mould bases of one kind and its construction method
CN103628692A (en) Floor beam mounting bracket and use and construction method thereof
KR102222019B1 (en) Camber Connection Supporter of bent pressed girder and Bridge construction method therewith
CN104018521A (en) Metro double-column elevated station steel reinforced concrete transformation structure reinforcing bar and construction method thereof
CN103711071A (en) Elevated section structure used for straddle type single-track transportation
CN203924115U (en) A kind of subway twin columns overhead station steel reinforced concrete transformational structure reinforcing bar
CN104818675B (en) The spelling method of reinforcing bar sections

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
C06 Publication
PB01 Publication
C10 Entry into substantive examination
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
C14 Grant of patent or utility model
GR01 Patent grant