Flexible Planar Cover with Reinforcing Members for Snow Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Snow accumulation on work surfaces in outdoor construction areas poses a challenge as it requires time-consuming and costly removal, disrupting work operations and causing lost productivity.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, planar cover with reinforcing members and manipulation members that can support and redistribute snow loads, allowing for efficient removal using a lifter, such as a crane or fork lift, minimizing spillage and facilitating timely and cost-effective snow clearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual snow removal methods are used, then snow can be removed from work surfaces, but the process is time-consuming and costly, resulting in lost work time and reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by placing a protective cover over the work surface before snow accumulates. The cover prevents snow from directly contacting the work surface, allowing for quick removal of the cover with accumulated snow rather than time-consuming manual snow removal from the work surface itself. This resolves the contradiction by preparing the system in advance to enable rapid snow clearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a removable cover as a mediator between the snow and the work surface. The cover collects snow that would otherwise need to be removed from the work surface itself. This intermediary layer allows snow to be gathered and removed efficiently as a single unit, significantly reducing the time and cost associated with direct snow removal from the work surface.
2Reliability
If a rigid cover structure is used to support snow loads, then the cover can reliably support the load, but the cover becomes difficult to maneuver and requires more material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using flexible reinforcement members that can adapt to the snow load rather than a rigid static structure. The reinforcement members are configured to provide structural support when needed while allowing the cover to remain flexible and maneuverable. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by enabling the cover to be both strong enough to support snow loads and flexible enough to be easily moved and positioned.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible shells and thin films by employing a flexible cover material with integrated reinforcement members. This flexible construction allows the cover to maintain structural integrity under snow loads while remaining lightweight and easy to maneuver. The flexible nature of the cover resolves the contradiction between load support reliability and ease of operation, as it can be easily deployed and removed without requiring heavy rigid structures.
3Reliability
If reinforcement members are added to the cover, then the cover can reliably support snow loads, but the cover complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the reinforcement structure into multiple discrete reinforcement members distributed across the cover. Rather than using a single complex rigid framework, the segmented reinforcement members provide distributed structural support that is easier to manufacture and assemble. This segmented approach resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable snow load support through multiple simple elements rather than one complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining flexible cover material with reinforcement members to create a composite structure. This composite construction provides the strength needed to support snow loads while maintaining the flexibility and simplicity of the overall design. The composite approach resolves the contradiction between load support reliability and device complexity by integrating structural reinforcement into the flexible cover material itself.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein provide a cover, and a method for using the cover with a surface. One embodiment of the cover comprises a flexible, substantially planar member. A plurality of reinforcing members is attached to the flexible, substantially planar member. The plurality of reinforcing members is arranged on the flexible, substantially planar member so that the flexible, substantially planar member can reliably support a load. A plurality of manipulation members is operatively associated with the plurality of reinforcing members. The plurality of manipulation members is accessible to a lifter so that the lifter can apply force to the plurality of reinforcing members and can move the load reliably supported by the flexible, substantially planar member. In a method of using a cover with a surface, a cover having a flexible, substantially planar member, a plurality of reinforcing members attached to the flexible, substantially planar member, the plurality of reinforcing members being arranged on the flexible, substantially planar member so that the flexible, substantially planar member can reliably support a load, and a plurality of manipulation members operatively associated with the plurality of reinforcing members is provided. The cover is placed on the surface. The load is allowed to accumulate on the cover. The plurality of manipulation members is accessed with a lifter. A force is applied to the plurality of reinforcing members with the lifter. The load reliably supported by the flexible, substantially planar member is moved with the lifter.