Covering Apparatus Auxiliary Elements for Safe Crosspiece Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of pergolas is complex and hazardous due to the heavy and complex nature of horizontal crosspieces, requiring precise assembly and testing, which is difficult to achieve, especially when installing on uneven surfaces like terraces or cliffs, and current methods are inefficient and prone to errors leading to potential collapse.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of auxiliary elements with L-shaped configurations and axial retention means on vertical uprights allows for pre-assembly and testing of horizontal crosspieces in the factory, simplifying installation by providing a stable support surface and enabling safe assembly from within the pergola structure, reducing the need for heavy equipment and minimizing operator risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If horizontal crosspieces are attached to vertical uprights using multiple attachment means, then stable connection is achieved, but installation complexity and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into two functional parts: attachment means for secure connection and support surface for simplified positioning. The support surface is separated from the vertical upright and integrated with the horizontal crosspiece, allowing pre-assembly and testing in the factory before final installation on site.
Solution Approach 2:
The support surface is pre-integrated with the horizontal crosspiece during factory assembly, allowing the crosspiece to be tested and prepared in advance. This preliminary action enables complete pre-assembly and testing of horizontal crosspieces in the factory, simplifying on-site installation to just the final connection step.
2Manufacturing precision
If horizontal crosspieces are supported and positioned during installation, then precise assembly is achieved, but installation time and operator effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is pre-integrated with the horizontal crosspiece in the factory, allowing precise positioning and testing to be completed in advance. This eliminates the need for complex support and positioning operations during on-site installation, reducing both time and effort while maintaining precision.
3Strength
If attachment means are used to connect crosspieces to uprights, then stable connection is achieved, but operator safety risks increase due to heavy components
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into attachment means for secure connection and a separate support surface integrated with the crosspiece. This allows the heavy horizontal crosspiece to be supported by the pre-integrated support surface during handling, reducing the need for operators to manually support and position heavy components, thereby improving safety.
4Manufacturing precision
If precise assembly is required for longitudinal and vertical gutters, then correct coupling is achieved, but assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is pre-integrated with the horizontal crosspiece in the factory, establishing precise reference surfaces and positions in advance. This preliminary action creates accurate alignment references that simplify the subsequent coupling of longitudinal and vertical gutters, maintaining precision while reducing assembly difficulty.
Data Source
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AI summary
Covering apparatus (10) and corresponding method to assemble the covering apparatus (10) comprising at least one vertical upright (11) and at least two horizontal crosspieces (12) attached to said vertical upright (11). The method comprises a step of installing at least one of the horizontal crosspieces (12) on said vertical upright (11), said installation step providing to lower said horizontal crosspieces (12) in a parallel or sub-parallel manner, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vertical upright (11).