Composite Column with Plastic Body and Metal Bracket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing composite building support columns face challenges in providing a decay-resistant ground-engaging portion without using hazardous chemicals, and they require innovative solutions for structural integrity and durability.
Innovation Solution
A composite support column design featuring a lower assembly made of plastic and metal materials, with a connection bracket and reinforcement plates that secure a laminated wooden upper assembly, utilizing a friction fit adjustment leg and drainage holes for stability and moisture management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemically treated wood is used for the ground-engaging portion to prevent decay, then decay resistance is improved, but harmful factors increase due to hazardous chemicals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the hazardous chemical treatment from the wood, replacing it with a mechanically treated approach where the wood is simply shaped and fitted into a metal bracket system that provides the decay resistance without chemicals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of decay resistance from chemical-based to physical/structural-based, using metal brackets and mechanical fastening systems to protect the wood from decay rather than chemical infusions
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a plastic body is used for the lower assembly to avoid hazardous chemicals, then harmful factors are reduced, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining plastic for the body (to avoid chemicals) with metal brackets and fasteners (to provide structural integrity), creating a hybrid system that achieves both goals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the lower assembly into separate functional components: the plastic body for chemical-free construction, metal brackets for structural support, and fasteners for connection, allowing each material to optimize its specific function
3Strength
If a connection bracket is used to secure the upper assembly to the lower assembly, then structural integrity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the connection bracket with the lower assembly as an integrated component, reducing the number of separate parts and simplifying the overall structure while maintaining structural integrity
Data Source
AI summary
A building support column includes a lower assembly with a connection bracket that includes a bottom plate. A body that includes plastic defines an exterior perimeter about support rods that extend from the bottom plate of the connection bracket. An adjustment leg that includes a threaded portion is movable within a center hole of the body to define a distance between the foot and the bottom plate.