Flat structure, multilayer flat structure, transition element and vehicle, aircraft boarding bridge, aircraft passenger stairs or building connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transition protection elements, such as corrugated or bellows, are complex and costly to produce due to the need for different materials and designs to achieve specific mechanical properties, making it difficult to tailor mechanical properties for specific applications efficiently and inexpensively.
Innovation Solution
A fabric with distinct sections that differ in mechanical properties, achieved through material weakening, such as perforations or changes in yarn thickness, allowing for flexible adaptation of mechanical properties like flexural rigidity, elasticity, and tensile strength, using a single material or identical sections with varying weaknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different materials and designs are used to achieve specific mechanical properties in transition protection elements, then the mechanical properties can be tailored for specific applications, but the production complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct sections within a single fabric structure, where each section has different mechanical properties achieved through material weakening (perforations, slits, or reduced yarn density) in specific areas. This allows different parts of the transition protection element to have tailored mechanical properties without requiring multiple different materials or complex assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functional sections into a single integrated fabric structure. Instead of assembling multiple separate elements with different materials, the invention combines all sections into one fabric piece with varying mechanical properties achieved through selective material weakening, thereby reducing production complexity and assembly requirements.
2Reliability
If multiple different elements are assembled to produce corrugated bellows, then the required mechanical properties can be achieved, but the production becomes cost-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal fabric structure that can fulfill multiple mechanical property requirements within a single element. By incorporating different sections with varying degrees of material weakening, a single fabric can serve multiple functional roles (rigid support in some areas, flexible deformation in others) without requiring multiple specialized components, thereby reducing production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the fabric by introducing material weakening features (perforations, slits, reduced yarn density) in specific sections. This allows continuous adjustment of mechanical properties such as flexibility, rigidity, and deformability within the same base material, achieving the required performance without needing multiple different materials or expensive custom assemblies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If made-to-measure corrugated bellows are produced, then the transition protection can be adapted to specific positions, but the production is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fabric into distinct sections with different mechanical properties by applying material weakening to specific areas. This segmentation is achieved through standardized production techniques (selective perforation, slitting, or yarn density variation) that can be efficiently manufactured, allowing the fabric to be cut and configured for different positions without requiring entirely custom-made pieces, thus maintaining production efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3b
Figure 4a~4c
AI summary
The invention relates to a planar structure (100) for a transition element (1000) for protecting a transition between two vehicle parts (1100, 1200) or components that are movably connected relative to each other. The planar structure has at least a first section (110) and at least a second section (120). The first section and the second section differ in at least one mechanical property. The first section (110) has at least one material weakening (111) for modifying the at least one mechanical property in the first section.