Assemblable FRP Platform with T-Slot Modular Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water recreation and sports equipment platforms made of metal are heavy and not weather-resistant, while those made of plastics lack strength and stiffness to support heavy-duty applications, and there is a lack of assembleable platforms made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) in the market.
Innovation Solution
An assembleable platform made of FRP, featuring a design with T-shaped slots and I-beam connectors, where each component has the same thickness and is made of FRP, with precise clearances and optional compressible materials to prevent movement, allowing for easy assembly and supporting weights over 300 lbs when submerged in water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal materials are used for platforms, then strength and stiffness are improved, but weight increases and weather-resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by using fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) instead of traditional metal or plain plastic. FRP combines fibers (such as glass, carbon, or aramid) with a polymer matrix to create a material that provides high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and weather resistance, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and weight while adding weather-resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by selecting specific fiber types, resin systems, and fiber orientations to optimize the mechanical properties of FRP. By adjusting these parameters, the platform achieves sufficient strength and stiffness while maintaining low weight and high weather-resistance.
2Weight of moving object
If plastic materials are used for platforms, then weight is reduced, but strength and stiffness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms plain plastic into a composite material system (FRP) where fibers are embedded in a polymer matrix. This composite structure provides both the weight advantage of plastics and the strength advantage of fibers, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength maintenance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional non-assembleable platforms are used, then structural integrity is improved, but ease of assembly and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the platform into modular segments (platform units) that can be assembled and disassembled. Each unit maintains its structural integrity through proper FRP construction, while the overall system gains ease of assembly and adaptability through the modular design with connection elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal connection elements that can join different platform units in various configurations. These standardized interfaces allow the same connection mechanism to serve multiple assembly scenarios, providing both structural integrity and ease of assembly while enabling adaptability for different applications.
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
The platform provides enhanced mechanical properties, buoyancy, and ease of assembly, supporting heavy loads while being lightweight and weather-resistant, addressing the deficiencies of existing platforms.
Implementation Method 1
supporting weights over 300 lbs when submerged in water
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an assembleable platform made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), including (1) a plurality of plates each having a first T-shaped slot on the top surface and a second T-shaped slot on the bottom surface along a first axis, and a third T-shaped slot on the right-side surface and a fourth T-shaped slot on the left-side surface both along the first axis and oriented perpendicular to the first axis, where the each plate is rectangular; (2) a plurality of T-shaped connectors disposed in the first T-shaped slot and the second T-shaped slot to connect the plurality of the plates; and (3) a plurality of I-beam connectors disposed in the third T-shaped slot and the fourth T-shaped slot to connect the plurality of plates to form the assembleable platform, wherein each of the plurality of plates, T-shaped connectors and I-beam connectors is made of FRP.