Ventilated Clay Drying Support Structure With Reinforced Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drying clay forms such as bricks or roof tiles requires a significant amount of time due to inefficient moisture removal, and existing support members are weakened by ventilation holes, necessitating thicker materials or additional reinforcement to maintain strength.
Innovation Solution
The support member is designed with perforated rectangular surfaces and U-shaped reinforcement profiles, featuring ventilation holes in the support walls and reinforcement profiles to enhance airflow, and fastening elements are configured as spaced tabs to improve ventilation without compromising structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ventilation holes are added to support walls to improve airflow and drying efficiency, then drying speed is improved, but structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support wall is segmented into multiple sections with ventilation holes distributed throughout, rather than having a single large opening. This segmentation allows airflow to pass through while maintaining structural integrity in each segment between the holes.
Solution Approach 2:
Ventilation holes are strategically positioned at specific locations on the support walls where they provide maximum airflow benefit while minimizing impact on overall structural strength. The local quality of the wall material may also be adjusted around hole locations to compensate for strength loss.
2Strength
If thicker material or additional reinforcement is used to maintain strength after adding ventilation holes, then structural strength is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement elements are merged with the existing support wall structure, integrating the strengthening function into the wall itself rather than adding separate, complex reinforcement systems. This combines multiple functions into a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support wall may utilize composite material construction where different materials or material configurations are combined to achieve both the required strength and the ventilation functionality without requiring excessive thickness or complex additional reinforcement.
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 accelerates the drying process by allowing moisture to escape more quickly, achieving faster drying times while maintaining structural stability and optimal ventilation capacity.
Implementation Method 1
moisture exits the clay forms more quickly or can at least exit more efficiently during drying thereon, allowing the clay forms to be dried faster
Implementation Method 2
humid air below the support surface can be more effectively replaced with relatively dry air
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a support structure configured for drying clay forms while being supported thereon. The support structure comprises a rectangular support surface provided with perforations, having two short and two long perimeter edges, and four support walls extending perpendicularly from the perimeter edges in the same direction. Each support wall is provided at its edge facing away from the support surface with a support wall flange extending parallel to and beneath the support surface. Optionally, the support structure includes a U-shaped reinforcement profile extending parallel to the long support walls between the support walls extending from the short perimeter edges. The ends of each leg of the U-shaped reinforcement profile are provided with securing elements extending perpendicularly to the legs, by which the reinforcement profile is attached to the support surface.