Floating Manhole Cover Assembly for Inclined Pavement Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional floating manhole cover assemblies face challenges in providing stable access to manholes on inclined surfaces, as the interaction between the manhole assembly and the surrounding surface is limited, leading to potential structural instability and reduced load-bearing capacity.
Innovation Solution
The proposed manhole cover assembly includes a base frame with a base body and flange, and a top frame with a top body and flange, where the top frame is positioned annularly around the base frame, with a lip to secure a cover and gussets for added rigidity, allowing for improved structural interaction with the pavement structure, enabling better load distribution and stability on inclined surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional floating manhole cover assembly with a two-part structure is used, then the manhole provides access through the surface, but the structural interaction between the assembly and the surrounding surface is limited, leading to reduced stability and load-bearing capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly is divided into a base frame portion and a top frame portion that are separate and can move relative to each other. The base frame remains stationary while the top frame floats and moves with pavement expansions and contractions, allowing each portion to optimize its function for stability and load-bearing capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The top frame is designed to move in the vertical dimension relative to the base frame, allowing it to float and adjust to pavement movements. This vertical movement capability enables the assembly to maintain structural integrity while adapting to dimensional changes in the surrounding pavement
2Stability of the object's composition
If the top frame is fixed rigidly to the base frame, then structural stability is improved, but the assembly cannot accommodate pavement expansions and contractions, leading to stress and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The top frame is designed as a dynamic component that can move relative to the base frame, transitioning between fixed and mobile states. This dynamic capability allows the assembly to maintain stability when needed while accommodating pavement movements through controlled mobility
Solution Approach 2:
The floating top frame acts as an intermediary between the stationary base frame and the surrounding pavement structure. It absorbs and accommodates pavement expansions and contractions, protecting the base frame and connection to the manhole structure from stress while maintaining overall structural stability
3Strength
If more material is used to increase load-bearing capacity, then strength is improved, but material usage and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly is segmented into a stationary base frame and a mobile top frame, allowing the structure to achieve high load-bearing capacity through intelligent design rather than material quantity. The base frame provides stable anchoring while the floating top frame distributes loads efficiently, reducing the need for excessive material in either component
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the functional parameters of each frame portion - the base frame is optimized for stationary load distribution while the top frame is optimized for mobile load adaptation. This parameter differentiation allows each component to be more efficient with material usage while collectively achieving superior load-bearing capacity
Data Source
AI summary
A manhole cover assembly comprises a base frame, the base frame comprising a base body and a base flange extending laterally outward from the base body. The assembly further comprises a top frame, the top frame comprising a top body disposed annularly about at least a portion of the base body, a top flange extending laterally outward from the top body, and a lip extending laterally inward from the top body.