Animal House Rib Structure for Convex-Surface Water Shedding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hollow-moulded panels for animal houses, such as hen houses, face challenges with sharp edges due to minimum wall thickness requirements, leading to rounded edges that allow water ingress and tracking, and existing solutions fail to effectively prevent water from entering the structure.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a rib with a sharp edge or protruding ridges to divert liquid away from the convex surface, forming a seal to prevent water ingress, and using a rib with a planar portion for easier alignment and assembly, or recessed end portions with protruding ridges to guide water away from the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hollow-moulded panels are used for animal house construction, then manufacturing efficiency and structural integrity are improved, but sharp edges cannot be formed due to minimum wall thickness requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The solution divides the panel structure into multiple segments by adding ribs that create sharp edges at panel joints. These ribs are separate structural elements attached to or formed as part of the hollow-moulded panels, allowing the main panel body to be manufactured efficiently while the rib segments provide the necessary sharp edges for water shedding.
2Ease of manufacture
If rounded edges are used in hollow-moulded panels, then manufacturing is simplified, but water tracking and ingress occur along the convex surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The rib acts as an intermediary element between the rounded convex surface of the hollow-moulded panel and the external environment. It provides a sharp edge that interrupts the water tracking path along the convex surface, preventing water from reaching the panel joints and entering the structure.
3Ease of operation
If panel gaps are left for manufacturing tolerances and assembly ease, then assembly flexibility is improved, but water ingress through capillary and wind action occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The rib is designed to protrude beyond the panel surface in advance, creating a preliminary barrier before water can reach the panel gaps. This protruding sharp edge intercepts water flowing down the convex surface, preventing it from entering the gaps through capillary action or wind-driven infiltration.
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
The rib and ridge solutions effectively prevent water from entering the animal house, maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic quality while allowing for removable parts and reducing water ingress.
Implementation Method 1
water can track along rounded convex edges and into the animal house through the small gaps... water may end up flowing down the outside of the hen house... water may then track around the rounded edge and inside the hen house
Data Source
AI summary
An animal house includes an impermeable hollow-moulded structure having at least one convex surface. The structure includes a first flat surface extending in a first direction and a second flat surface extending in a second direction. The convex surface connects the first flat surface to the second flat surface. The structure further includes a rib defining a sharp edge. The rib is configured to be releasably attached proximate to or on the convex surface such that the rib diverts a liquid flowing over the convex surface away from the structure. An impermeable hollow-moulded panel with protruding ridges is also provided to prevent water ingress.