Grating with Barrel Arch Mesh Structure for Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mesh and perforated gratings face issues with low air passage, bacterial growth due to crevices, and labor-intensive manufacturing, making them unsuitable for high-demand environments like the food industry and mezzanine floors.

Innovation Solution

A grating with a mesh structure featuring barrel arches formed by pressing sheet metal, which provides high strength, reduced material usage, and increased air passage, along with embossings for slip resistance, eliminating the need for additional support bars and reducing bacterial accumulation risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional perforated gratings are used, then manufacturing is simple, but air passage is only 15-25% and water drainage is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidair passage efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs barrel arches with curved surfaces instead of flat or straight structures. The barrel arch shape creates smooth transitions and rounded profiles that enhance water drainage capabilities while maintaining structural integrity, directly addressing the insufficient water drainage problem of conventional perforated gratings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Strength

If mesh gratings with intersecting slats are used, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing becomes labor-intensive and joints create bacterial growth risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure. The barrel arches simultaneously provide structural support, create load-bearing sections in perpendicular directions, enable water drainage, and eliminate the need for separate support bars and edge bars, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The barrel arch structure serves multiple purposes: it provides structural strength, creates air passage, enables water drainage, and forms the complete grating structure without requiring additional components. This multi-functionality reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If conventional gratings are used, then material usage is standard, but strength-to-weight ratio is not optimized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidgrating weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The barrel arch shape distributes loads more efficiently across the structure compared to flat or straight elements. The curved geometry creates inherent structural strength that allows for reduced material usage while maintaining load-bearing capacity, thereby optimizing the strength-to-weight ratio

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Ease of manufacture

If gratings with smooth surfaces are used, then cleaning is easier, but slip resistance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning easeVSAvoidslip resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different surface characteristics to different locations on the grating. The barrel arches have smooth curved surfaces that facilitate water drainage and ease of cleaning, while the rounded top surfaces provide slip resistance. This local differentiation of surface properties simultaneously achieves both cleaning ease and slip resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 grating achieves a high strength-to-weight ratio, improved air and water passage, and enhanced slip resistance, making it suitable for demanding environments with reduced manufacturing complexity and bacterial growth risks.

Implementation Method 1

The production method used will be pressing, the metal will be subject to cold forming

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCold-forming: Cold-forming

Implementation Method 2

the walls are formed between the openings and have the shape of barrel arches

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectArch structure: Arch

Implementation Method 3

water will readily run off and down the sides of the side arches through the openings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 4

Since the arches have a smooth transition, there will be no cracks or joints where there is a risk of accumulation of bacteria

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface smoothness:

Implementation Method 5

there are embossings formed at the top of the arches that extend over the top side of the grating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3587686B9Grating with mesh structure

Publication Date: 2022.10.05 PCP CORP AS

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AI summary

A grating (1) with mesh structure is described, where there is a pattern of openings (3) at the top side of the grating, which allows water to drain from the top side. The grating is made from sheet metal. The openings (3) at the top side of the grating are formed by pressing of sheet metal so that walls are formed between the openings, which have the shape of barrel arches, where the top of the arches forms the top of the grating and where the sides of the arches form side walls (5) in adjacent openings.