Floor Drying via Joint Cross Holes and Round Inserts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for drying and restoring stone floor surfaces after water penetration often require drilling through tiles, leading to damage, costly replacements, and unsatisfactory optical restoration, especially due to unsuitable adhesives and uneven heating issues with natural stone coverings.
Innovation Solution
A method involving drilling holes at the common points of contact between tiles, such as joint crosses or T-crosses, followed by sealing with round inserts that allow for geometric and visual design freedom, minimizing tile replacement and enhancing air throughput for rapid drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If holes are drilled through tiles for drying, then air throughput is improved and drying efficiency is enhanced, but tile damage occurs and replacement costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the hole location strategy by drilling holes specifically at the cross points of tile joints rather than through the tile bodies themselves. This segmentation of location allows air throughput improvement while avoiding tile damage, as the holes are positioned in the grout joint areas where tiles naturally meet.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by treating different locations on the floor differently - holes are drilled only at joint cross points where grout material exists, rather than uniformly across all tile surfaces. This localized approach ensures drying efficiency while preserving tile integrity in the tile body areas.
2Reliability
If tiles are removed and replaced, then complete restoration is achieved, but costs increase and material availability becomes an issue
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies discarding and recovering by using the existing grout joint material and tile edge material at the cross points to create inserts that restore the floor appearance. Rather than removing and replacing entire tiles, the method recovers and reuses the existing tile and grout materials by shaping inserts from them to fill the holed areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses copying by creating inserts that replicate the appearance and form of the surrounding tile and grout joint areas. These inserts are shaped to match the specific tile patterns and grout joint configurations at each location, providing visual restoration without requiring replacement tiles.
3Ease of manufacture
If drill bits intended for concrete and screed are used, then drilling capability is sufficient, but vibrations cause additional material damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies parameter changes by modifying the drilling parameters - using lower drill speeds, reduced feed rates, and specific drilling patterns at the joint cross points. These parameter adjustments reduce vibrations and material damage while maintaining adequate drilling capability for creating the drying holes.
4Ease of repair
If natural stone coverings are heated for detachment, then adhesive removal is achieved, but uneven heating causes additional damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies taking out by extracting the need for thermal detachment entirely from the process. Instead of heating tiles to remove adhesive, the method drills holes at joint cross points where tiles remain in place, eliminating the problematic heating step and its associated uneven heating issues.
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
This approach enables effective drying and optical restoration without replacing tiles, providing a visually appealing and intentional design pattern, while minimizing the risk of tile damage and allowing for flexible material choices for the inserts.
Implementation Method 1
an air flow is directed through the material using a negative or positive pressure method. This air flow absorbs moisture, which is released into the surrounding atmosphere during the overpressure process
Implementation Method 2
the air flow absorbs moisture, which is released into the surrounding atmosphere during the overpressure process and is separated in a condenser during the intake process
Implementation Method 3
The moisture spreads in the insulating layer or in the screed and releases it slowly but steadily into the masonry. Due to the capillarity of the masonry, the moisture rises.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for drying and subsequent optical recovery of floors after water damage, wherein bores are carried out in the region of mutual contact points of tiles, drying is then carried out through said bores, and the bores are subsequently closed using a round insert.