Height and Slope Adjustable Pedestal for Decking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pedestal systems for elevated deck construction on sloped surfaces are either not height and slope adjustable, lack sufficient locking mechanisms, or require complex and costly threaded components, leading to instability and increased installation time.
Innovation Solution
A height and slope adjustable pedestal system using a rotatable threaded base with a non-threaded PVC midsection and a tiltable leveling head, featuring a narrow elongate slot locking washer for secure attachment and a zero compensator washer for precise leveling, allowing for easy adjustment and locking of deck tiles on both level and sloped surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If threaded components are used for height adjustment, then height adjustability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pedestal is divided into distinct segments: a threaded base section for height adjustment, a non-threaded midsection for structural integrity, and a tiltable head section for slope adjustment. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without the complexity of threading throughout the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Threading is applied only where necessary (at the base for height adjustment) rather than throughout the entire pedestal. The midsection uses non-threaded piping to maintain structural strength, while the head section has its own threading for slope adjustment. This localized application of threading reduces overall complexity while maintaining adjustability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If locking mechanisms are added to secure slope position, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pedestal utilizes the gravity and geometry of its own components to maintain locked positions. The tiltable head section, once adjusted to the desired slope, is held in place by its own weight and the friction between mating surfaces, eliminating the need for additional active locking mechanisms while maintaining stability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjustable sections are included, then adaptability to sloped surfaces is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pedestal incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities where the base section can be rotated for height adjustment and the head section can be tilted for slope compensation. These dynamic features allow the pedestal to adapt to various installation conditions while maintaining relatively simple operation through rotational and tilting motions rather than complex multi-step adjustments.
4Ease of manufacture
If non-threaded piping is used for midsection, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The non-threaded piping is used specifically for the midsection where structural integrity is most critical, as threading would weaken this load-bearing portion. The threaded sections are confined to the base and head where adjustability is needed, creating a localized quality distribution that optimizes both strength and manufacturability.
Data Source
AI summary
An elevating leveling pedestal having a base rotatably attached to a first coupling end to collectively create a height adjustment mechanism, a second coupling end non-rotatably attached to a first end of a non-threaded midsection of predetermined length with a second end non-rotatably attached to a head assembly to support, secure, and level a surface installed over a non-sloping or sloping sub-surface. Another embodiment comprising a height and slope adjustable pedestal that has its tilting mechanism on the bottom of the pedestal allowing the pedestal column to remain vertical and not skewed made using a single length of unthreaded piping, the rotatable device base having minimal surface threading, and the device base able to be locked in a zero or non-zero slope for supporting a structure above a fixed surface, and the method of using such a device.