Foldable Composite Utility Enclosure With Heavy-Load Reinforced Lid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concrete utility enclosures are bulky, difficult to transport and install, prone to damage, and pose safety risks due to their weight, while plastic enclosures are also space-consuming during transportation.
Innovation Solution
A foldable plastic/composite utility enclosure with hinged sides that can be folded to 15-20% of its unfolded thickness, featuring hinges with housings for anchoring and a reinforced lid capable of withstanding heavy loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If concrete utility enclosures are used to withstand heavy loads, then strength is improved, but weight and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from concrete to plastic, fundamentally altering the density and strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the enclosure to maintain load withstanding capability while dramatically reducing weight for easier transportation and installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by integrating reinforcement ribs and anchoring structures within the plastic body, creating a composite material system that combines the lightness of plastic with the strength of reinforcement elements to achieve both load bearing and ease of operation.
2Strength
If concrete utility enclosures are used to withstand heavy loads, then strength is improved, but device complexity and ease of manufacture deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated plastic body: the load-bearing structure, the anchoring mechanism, and the reinforcement elements are all combined into one molded component, simplifying the overall structure and manufacturing process while maintaining strength.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing from concrete casting to plastic molding, the patent simplifies the manufacturing process. The plastic can be molded into complex shapes with integrated features in a single step, reducing structural complexity and ease of manufacture compared to concrete assembly.
3Ease of operation
If plastic utility enclosures are used to reduce weight, then ease of operation is improved, but volume and loss of substance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces collapsible sides with hinge joints that allow the enclosure to transition from an expanded operational state to a collapsed transportation state. This dynamic structure reduces volume during transport while maintaining the required volume and ease of operation when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the enclosure into collapsible side panels connected by hinges, allowing each panel to be folded independently. This segmentation enables the structure to compress into a compact form for transportation while maintaining full functionality when assembled, reducing transportation space without sacrificing operational ease.
4Strength
If concrete utility enclosures are used to withstand heavy loads, then strength is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to damage during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material from brittle concrete to ductile plastic, fundamentally altering the damage resistance characteristics. Plastic can absorb impact energy through deformation rather than fracturing, significantly improving reliability during transport while maintaining load withstanding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic material inherently provides cushioning and impact absorption before damage occurs. The ductile nature of plastic allows it to deform and absorb transport shocks, protecting the enclosure from damage beforehand, thereby improving reliability while maintaining structural strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A lid for a utility enclosure having a front end, a rear end, a right side, a left side, a top lid portion, and a bottom, defining an interior. Large reinforcement ribs are on an interior surface of the top lid portion and form a lattice-type structure. Small reinforcement ribs are mounted in spaces formed by the lattice type structure. The lid is made of glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene and metal bars or rebar are embedded in the large reinforcement ribs. The metal bars are positioned near a bottom of the large reinforcement ribs and spaced above the bottom. The physical structure of the lid and the lid's composition, consisting essentially of glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene, are constructed so that the lid withstands up to 33,750 pounds of force without breaking or being deformed.