Elevatable Building Platform with Screw Lift Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flood protection solutions for residential buildings in flood-prone areas are either expensive, unsuitable for occasional flooding, or lack control over the lowering process, making them impractical for social housing and areas with unpredictable flooding patterns.
Innovation Solution
An elevatable building design featuring a lightweight platform with a lifting mechanism, powered by screw rods and a central control system, allowing the structure to be raised automatically during floods while maintaining essential services like water and electricity, and a net/mesh material to prevent debris accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If floating structures or amphibious houses are used for flood protection, then buildings can survive flood events, but the cost increases significantly (roughly twice a traditional house) and control over lowering is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The building is designed with a dynamic elevation capability through a lifting mechanism that can raise the structure above flood levels and lower it back to ground level. This dynamic system allows the building to adapt to flood conditions while maintaining cost-effectiveness compared to permanently floating or amphibious designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex passive floating mechanisms (hulls, rafts, telescopic piles) with a controlled lifting mechanism using screw rods and driving means. This substitution provides active control over elevation while simplifying the overall structural requirements compared to traditional floating house designs.
2Ease of operation
If passive buoyancy systems are used, then buildings can rise with water levels, but control over lowering is lost leading to debris entrapment
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism incorporates control means that can detect water levels and building position, providing feedback to the driving means. This feedback system enables automatic rising when water levels increase while maintaining the capability for controlled lowering when conditions improve, preventing debris entrapment.
Solution Approach 2:
The building system is designed to automatically respond to flood conditions by rising when water levels increase, without requiring manual intervention. The control means can autonomously operate the lifting mechanism based on water level sensors or predetermined conditions.
3Device complexity
If lightweight construction is used for elevatable buildings, then cost is reduced, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The building employs composite construction combining lightweight materials (such as timber frame, insulated panels, or metal cladding) with a robust concrete foundation and steel lifting mechanism. This composite approach maintains overall structural strength while keeping the superstructure lightweight enough for elevation.
Solution Approach 2:
The design uses the concrete foundation and earth anchorages as counterweights to balance the lightweight superstructure during elevation. The screw rods engage with the heavy foundation to provide the mechanical advantage needed to lift the building with reduced effort.
4Reliability
If buildings are elevated during floods, then flood damage is prevented, but utility connections become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The utility connections incorporate flexible elements such as flexible conduits, hoses, or bellows that can accommodate the vertical movement of the building. These flexible connections maintain utility service (water, electricity, drainage) while allowing the building to elevate and lower without breaking the connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The utility connection system is designed to be dynamic rather than static, with components that can extend, retract, or flex as the building changes elevation. This dynamic design maintains continuous utility service throughout the elevation cycle.
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 provides a cost-effective, adaptable, and safe means to protect residential buildings from flooding, ensuring habitability during flood events and efficient reconnection of utilities post-flood, with the ability to control the lowering process to prevent debris entrapment.
Implementation Method 1
a lifting mechanism having a plurality of vertical members engaged with a driving means for raising and lowering the platform
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An elevatable building including a foundation (18) set into a ground surface and a platform (15) that, in the event of a flood, is to be elevated by a lifting mechanism (19). The building includes lightweight walls (14) and a roof assembled on the platform (15) to form a house. An adaptable connection (28) for utility services is provided which adjusts to the height from ground level of the platform when it is raised or lowered by the lifting mechanism so that vital service to the house can remain uninterrupted.