Composite Support Foot Base for Heavy-Load Compression Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support feet for heavy bodies are limited in maximum tolerable load due to the thickness of steel used in their construction, making it impractical to increase load-bearing capacity without expensive manufacturing techniques.
Innovation Solution
A support foot base comprising a steel cap with a synthetic material mass and a reinforcement frame, where the synthetic material fills the cap's concavity and the reinforcement frame is integrated within, allowing for a significant portion of the load to be distributed across both materials to maintain elastic deformability and prevent plastic deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the steel sheet thickness is increased to support heavier loads, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The base combines a steel cap with a synthetic material mass (polymer composite) to create a composite structure. The steel cap provides high strength for heavy loads, while the synthetic material fills the concavity and provides damping, corrosion resistance, and cost-effective manufacturing through injection molding. This composite approach achieves high load-bearing capacity without requiring thick steel sheets.
2Strength
If the steel sheet thickness is increased to support heavier loads, then the axial compression resistance is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure where the steel cap provides axial compression resistance and the synthetic material mass provides cost-effective manufacturing through standard injection molding processes. This avoids the need for expensive thick steel sheet manufacturing while achieving the required compression resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The steel cap is strategically placed only where high strength is needed (at the load application point and in the reinforcement frame area), while the synthetic material occupies the remaining volume. This localized use of expensive steel material optimizes both strength and manufacturing cost.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a stiff coupling is used between stem and base, then the structural rigidity is improved, but the adaptability to non-flat surfaces decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The base allows dynamic adjustment of the stem orientation relative to the base through the articulated coupling mechanism. This enables the support foot to adapt to non-flat surfaces while maintaining structural integrity through the rigid steel cap and reinforcement frame when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism allows change in the geometric parameters (orientation angles) of the stem relative to the base, enabling adaptation to various surface conditions while the steel cap maintains structural rigidity through its reinforced geometry.
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 solution enhances the load-bearing capacity of support feet by distributing the load across a steel cap and a reinforcement frame, achieving higher axial compression resistance without the need for expensive manufacturing methods, while maintaining elastic deformability and preventing permanent deformation or breakage.
Implementation Method 1
a synthetic material mass and a contact surface said cap having a concavity on the side that faces the contact surface (215), the synthetic material mass arranged in adhesion to the cap
Data Source
AI summary
A base (110) for a support foot (100) for supporting heavy bodies on a support surface, comprising a cap (115) intended in the use to be mechanically coupled to coupling means (105) of the base to a body to be supported. The cap is made of a first material of mechanical properties such as to guarantee that the cap is able to support, remaining substantially within the limit of elastic deformability, a first significative fraction of a load received by said coupling means to the body to be supported, and has said concavity on the side that, in the use, faces the support surface. A synthetic material mass (210) is arranged in adhesion to the cap and it is adapted to substantially fill the concavity of the cap, forming a contact surface (215) with a support surface. A support frame (240), buried within the synthetic material mass, is made of a second material having mechanical properties comparable to that of the cap, such as to guarantee that the support frame can support, remaining substantially within the limit of the elastic deformability, a second significative fraction of said load, wherein the first and second fractions of the load form altogether substantially the total load.