Dry floor hardened grid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dry floor systems in aircraft lavatories and similar areas are not durable enough to withstand heavy traffic and high-pressure contacts, particularly with heel-wearing individuals, leading to compromised dryness and slip hazards due to insufficient robustness of absorbent mats and grills.
Innovation Solution
A laminated dry floor system comprising a grid assembly with a support interlayer and a wicking layer, where the support interlayer is bonded to the grid and positioned on top of a wicking layer, enhancing durability and liquid passage, and a base layer provides rigidity, with a dished pan to collect liquids, incorporating apertures and materials like titanium or stainless steel for structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If openings in the grid are made small to prevent catching of heels, then safety is improved, but liquid passage capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The grid members have varying thicknesses along their length, with thinner sections allowing smaller effective opening sizes for safety while thicker sections provide structural strength. This local variation in geometry enables the grid to simultaneously prevent heel catching and maintain adequate liquid passage capability.
2Strength
If the grid structure is made robust to withstand heavy traffic, then durability is improved, but liquid passage capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The grid members feature non-uniform thickness distribution, with thicker portions providing structural strength to withstand heavy traffic and thinner portions creating adequate opening sizes for liquid passage. This localized variation in geometry resolves the contradiction between durability and liquid passage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines the rigid grid structure with a flexible wicking layer beneath it. The grid provides mechanical strength and durability, while the wicking layer compensates for reduced liquid passage through the grid by actively wicking liquids through capillary action, achieving both durability and effective liquid management.
3Reliability
If absorbent mats are used to maintain dry floors, then liquid absorption is improved, but durability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines a durable rigid grid structure with a flexible wicking layer beneath it. The grid provides mechanical strength and durability to withstand heavy traffic, while the wicking layer performs the liquid absorption function through capillary action, resolving the contradiction between durability and dry floor maintenance capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the traditional mechanical compression-based absorption of thick mats with a passive capillary action-based wicking mechanism. The wicking layer uses surface tension and capillary forces to draw liquids through it, eliminating the need for thick, durable-absorbent materials and enabling the use of thinner, more durable structures.
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 system effectively maintains dry floors by inducing liquid passage through the grid and wicking layer, ensuring durability and preventing slips, even under heavy use, with the ability to absorb or redirect liquids for easy maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The wicking layer is interposed between the pan and the grid, and is configured to wick liquid that passes through the openings toward the pan
Implementation Method 2
the first array of apertures, second array of apertures and thickness of the support interlayer configured to induce passage of liquid
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A laminated dry floor system incorporates a grid (52) having a lattice forming a first array of apertures. A support interlayer (58) is adhered beneath the grid (52) and has a second array of apertures in alignment with the first array, the first array of apertures, second array of apertures and thickness of the support interlayer (58) configured to induce passage of a liquid. A wicking layer (62) is in contact with the support interlayer (58) opposite the grid (52). A base layer (64) underlies the wicking layer (62) and a pan assembly (70) is configured to receive the base layer.