Carport Hinged Assembly Single-Plane Pivot and Central Drainage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor shelters, such as carports, face assembly difficulties due to spherical heads allowing two-dimensional movement, leading to alignment issues, and clogging problems with rainwater drainage systems as debris gets trapped in the swivel rod and axis center.
Innovation Solution
A shelter design featuring a hinged assembly with a clevis pivot function allowing angular adjustment in a single plane, decoupling clamping from pivoting, and incorporating a central passage for rainwater drainage, eliminating mechanical parts within the mounting bracket to prevent clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spherical head with a pivoting rod is used to allow angular adjustment of beams, then adaptability is improved, but assembly difficulty increases due to alignment problems from two-dimensional movement
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical head is segmented into a mounting bracket with guide grooves and a separate beam end piece with lips, constraining movement to one dimension while maintaining angular adjustment capability
Solution Approach 2:
Guide grooves act as an intermediary mechanism between the spherical head and beam, allowing controlled pivoting while preventing unwanted two-dimensional movement that causes alignment issues
2Device complexity
If the pivoting rod and axis are mounted in the center of the spherical head, then structural integration is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to clogging from debris trapping
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting rod and axis are extracted from the central drainage path of the spherical head, relocating them to positions that do not obstruct water flow, thereby preventing debris accumulation and clogging
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage channel is designed to flow around the pivoting mechanism rather than through it, converting the potential harm of mechanical parts in the drainage path into a beneficial separated flow path that prevents clogging
3Manufacturing precision
If guide grooves are added to constrain beam movement to a vertical plane, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide grooves are merged into the spherical head structure itself rather than being separate components, maintaining manufacturing precision while minimizing additional device complexity
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 design simplifies assembly, prevents alignment issues, and ensures efficient rainwater drainage by removing debris accumulation, enhancing the functionality and usability of outdoor shelters.
Implementation Method 1
a hinged assembly comprising a clevis mounting piece carried by the end of the beam, which cooperates with a mounting bracket associated with the load-bearing element to form a pivot joint
Implementation Method 2
The mounting bracket comprises a central passage, preferably substantially vertical, opening on one side into the upper face of the mounting bracket and on the other side into an internal passage in the supporting element
Data Source
Figure 1~8
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A carport comprises load-bearing elements (12); beams (14) attached to the load-bearing elements (12); and a roof (18) resting on the beams (14). Each beam (14) is supported at its ends by a respective load-bearing element (12). At least one beam (12) is supported at one end by a hinged assembly (20) comprising a clevis mounting piece (22) at the end of the beam (14), which cooperates with a mounting bracket (24) associated with the load-bearing element (12) to form a pivot joint. The mounting piece (22) has a base (26) integral with the beam (14) and two flanges (28) extending from the beam. The mounting bracket (24) comprises two side faces (30), each flange (28) being pivotally mounted on a respective side face (30).A clamping means is provided, which includes a link (40) one end (44) of which is anchored in the mounting piece (22) and the other end (42), called the clamping end, cooperates with a piece (48) integral with the beam (14).