Adjustable Shuttering Panel with Synchronizing Shafts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for shuttering curved walls are cumbersome and prone to warping due to the lack of mechanical links between adjustment devices, leading to inaccurate and difficult-to-use curvature adjustments.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of synchronizing shafts that act on both top and bottom parts of the shuttering panel, allowing simultaneous adjustment of multiple beams through a single transverse shaft, thereby maintaining uniform curvature and preventing warping by synchronizing the adjustment of adjacent beams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple tensioners are used to adjust each beam individually, then the curvature of each beam can be adjusted, but the adjustment process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurvature adjustment precisionVSAvoidnumber of adjustment devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple independent tensioner devices are merged into a single synchronized adjustment system. The synchronizing shafts connect corresponding beams at different heights, allowing one adjustment device to control multiple beams simultaneously, thereby reducing the total number of devices while maintaining curvature adjustment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronizing shaft mechanism provides multi-functionality by enabling a single adjustment device to simultaneously adjust multiple beams at different positions. This universal adjustment capability eliminates the need for separate tensioners for each beam, simplifying the overall system while preserving adjustment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If adjustment devices are positioned at multiple points along each beam, then individual beam curvature can be controlled, but the adjustment process becomes difficult and inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurve accuracyVSAvoidadjustment ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple adjustment operations at different points along the beams are merged into a single synchronized operation. The synchronizing shafts transmit the adjustment motion from one point to corresponding points on other beams, maintaining curve accuracy while dramatically improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronizing shaft acts as an intermediary mechanism that transfers the adjustment motion from a single access point to multiple beams simultaneously. This mediator ensures that all beams are adjusted uniformly, maintaining manufacturing precision while simplifying the operation for the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If beams are adjusted independently without mechanical links, then each beam can be positioned separately, but warping occurs due to loss of parallelism between generatrices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam position flexibilityVSAvoidpanel parallelism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Independent beam adjustments are merged into a synchronized operation through the synchronizing shaft mechanism. This ensures that beams remain parallel to each other while still allowing the panel to adapt to different curvature requirements, maintaining both flexibility and structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronizing shaft mechanism provides mechanical feedback that ensures parallelism is maintained during adjustment. As one beam is adjusted, the synchronizing shaft automatically transmits the corresponding adjustment to other beams, creating a self-regulating system that prevents warping while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If a single transverse shaft is used to adjust multiple beams simultaneously, then adjustment time is reduced and uniformity is improved, but the mechanical linkage complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment speedVSAvoidmechanical linkage structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical linkage system is segmented into modular synchronizing shaft assemblies that can be independently installed and adjusted. Each shaft assembly handles a specific set of beams, allowing the system to scale without proportionally increasing complexity. This segmentation enables rapid adjustment while keeping the mechanical linkage manageable through standardized modular components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2292873B1Adjustable panel for shuttering curved walls
Publication Date: 2014.06.04 SISTEMAS TECNICOS DE ENCOFRADOS SA
  • EP2292873B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2292873B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2292873B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The panel is of the type which comprises a laminar shuttering plate (1) which can be curved to determine the surface of the shuttering, this laminar plate (1) being associated on one of its sides with a plurality of vertically arranged beams (2) of substantially open trapezoidal box structure and characterised by the arrangement of shafts (5) operating and synchronising adjustment of the curvature of the laminar shuttering element between each of two panel beams (2) and parallel thereto, each pair of adjacent shafts (5) being associated with a single operating mechanism associated with the intermediate beam between the said shafts, a mechanism which can cause the two shafts (5) adjacent thereto to rotate, the said operating and synchronisation shafts being joined by means of connecting rods (24) articulated to the corresponding adjacent beams to change their relative position and thereby the curvature of the panel.