Edge Protection System Rotating Support Foot Concrete Flooring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing edge protection systems for concrete flooring panels are time-consuming to install and lack flexibility, often leading to damage at the interface between adjacent panels due to heavy object traffic.
Innovation Solution
An edge protection system featuring modular components with vertically opposed longitudinal rails and a support foot with an engagement formation that can be rotated from an unlocked to a locked orientation, allowing for efficient installation and alignment of bridging pins, retaining clips, and dowel plates to secure and support the panels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing edge protection systems are used to protect concrete flooring panels, then damage to panel edges is reduced, but installation time increases and flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The edge protection system is divided into modular components including support feet, bridging pins, retaining clips, and dowel plates that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows for pre-fabrication and rapid on-site assembly, reducing installation time while maintaining protection effectiveness through systematic component integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The support foot incorporates a rotatable engagement formation that transitions between unlocked and locked orientations. This dynamic mechanism enables flexible installation by allowing the support foot to be easily positioned and then securely locked into place, balancing installation speed with structural reliability.
2Reliability
If existing edge protection systems are used to protect concrete flooring panels, then damage to panel edges is reduced, but installation flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses discrete modular components that can be independently positioned and configured to suit different installation scenarios, providing flexibility in adapting to various panel layouts and protection requirements while maintaining overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable engagement formation provides dynamic installation capability, allowing the support foot to be easily inserted in an unlocked state and then secured in a locked state. This dynamic mechanism enhances installation flexibility without compromising the protective function.
Solution Approach 3:
The modular components serve multiple functions: support feet provide both support and anchoring, bridging pins connect panels while accommodating movement, and retaining clips secure components. This multi-functionality increases installation versatility while maintaining protection effectiveness.
3Productivity
If modular components with rotatable engagement formations are used, then installation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable engagement formation uses a simple rotational mechanism with defined unlocked and locked positions. This dynamic feature, while adding some complexity, enables rapid installation through clear mechanical states that guide the installer, improving productivity without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement formation's rotational locking mechanism is self-contained and self-explanatory, requiring minimal external tools or complex assembly procedures. The component essentially installs itself through the intuitive rotate-and-lock action, balancing complexity with installation efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An edge protection system for use with concrete flooring, including a first part for coupling to an edge portion of a first concrete flooring panel and a second part for coupling to an opposed edge portion of a second, neighbouring, concrete flooring panel, and a support foot for supporting the system relative to a ground surface, wherein the first part has a pair of vertically opposed longitudinal rails, and the support foot has an engagement formation which has an unlocked orientation for inserting the formation between the opposed rails to abut against the first part and a rotated, locked orientation wherein the formation is locked by the rails against lateral withdrawal from the first part.