Gravity Feed Plug Insertion Tool for Termite Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual plugging of chemical injection holes in concrete slabs for termite control is time-consuming and potentially injurious, as pest controllers need to kneel down to seal hundreds of holes at close intervals.
Innovation Solution
A tool with a chamber for housing multiple plugs, a gravity feed system, and a guide with a push rod mechanism that allows for efficient and quick delivery of plugs into holes, utilizing a plunger and biasing means to automate the plug insertion process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual plugging method is used, then each hole can be plugged individually, but the process is extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus segments the plug storage into individual compartments, each capable of holding multiple plugs. This allows the operator to quickly access and deploy multiple plugs without reloading, significantly increasing productivity when plugging numerous holes at regular intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus is designed to be self-contained with all necessary components (plugs, pushing mechanism, positioning guide) integrated into a single tool. The operator simply positions the guide and activates the pushing mechanism, eliminating the need for separate manual operations and reducing time loss.
2Ease of operation
If manual plugging method is used, then precise control over plug insertion is achieved, but the operator must kneel down repeatedly causing potential injury
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus introduces a vertical dimension to the plugging operation by using a guide that extends downward from the operator's standing position. The guide reaches into the hole while the operator remains upright, eliminating the need to kneel and thereby removing the associated physical injury risk.
3Productivity
If automated push rod mechanism is used, then plug delivery becomes efficient and quick, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus merges multiple functions into a single integrated tool: the chamber stores plugs, the feed channel delivers them, the push rod inserts them, and the guide positions the tool. This consolidation achieves automated efficient plug delivery while keeping the device as a single manageable unit rather than multiple separate tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The pushing mechanism is extracted as a separate, movable component that can be independently activated. This allows the plugging action to be decoupled from the positioning and storage functions, enabling efficient automated delivery while keeping each subsystem relatively simple and maintainable.
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 tool significantly reduces the effort and time required to plug holes, enabling faster and safer termite treatment by allowing for efficient and automated delivery of plugs into multiple holes without the need for manual kneeling.
Implementation Method 1
the chamber having a feed channel to permit passage of plugs under gravity to a feed location at or near an end of the apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for plugging a hole, the apparatus including: a chamber for housing a plurality of plugs which are sized to fit the hole, the chamber having a feed channel to permit passage of plugs under gravity to a feed location at or near an end of the apparatus; a plug exit; a guide for positioning the apparatus such that the plug exit is at an entrance to, or is within, the hole; and a push rod for driving a plug from the feed location through the plug exit into the hole.