Hinged Clamping Masonry Transport Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tools for transporting and placing large pavers or stone tiles are inefficient, causing worker fatigue and injury due to the need for multiple workers and difficulty in maintaining level placement, especially for tiles larger than 1 ft.×1 ft, which often require more than one worker and result in strain and potential injury.
Innovation Solution
A masonry transport assembly with a two-person handle and hinged clamping mechanism that allows for secure grip and positioning of large pavers, maintaining an open position when not in use, enabling easy handling and precise placement without manual opening, and featuring a release mechanism to avoid bending and minimize strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple workers manually lift and transport large pavers, then the pavers can be moved to their destination, but worker fatigue and injury risk increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A mechanical lifting apparatus with a handle and clamping mechanism serves as an intermediary tool between workers and heavy pavers. The apparatus includes clamping members that grip the paver edges and a handle that transmits lifting force, allowing workers to control and transport large pavers without direct manual handling, thereby reducing fatigue and injury risk while maintaining transport efficiency
2Ease of operation
If workers place pavers by hand one edge at a time, then the pavers can be positioned on the base, but the base becomes un-level due to compacting effects
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting apparatus performs preliminary leveling action by maintaining the paver in a horizontal orientation during the entire placement process. The clamping mechanism keeps the paver stable and level as it is moved into position, allowing workers to place pavers directly onto the base without subsequent re-leveling, thus maintaining base levelness while preserving placement simplicity
3Reliability
If the clamping mechanism is designed to securely grip large pavers, then the pavers can be transported safely, but the mechanism cannot accommodate pavers placed in close proximity
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism features dynamic arms that can pivot and adjust their position. The arms are connected via hinges or pivots, allowing them to open wide for securing large pavers during transport, then close together to accommodate pavers placed in close proximity. This dynamic adjustment maintains grip security while providing positioning flexibility for different paver arrangements
4Device complexity
If the transport assembly maintains a closed position when not in use, then the clamping mechanism is compact, but manual opening requires bending and increases strain
Solution Approach 1:
The transport assembly incorporates a spring-loaded or gravity-assisted mechanism that automatically opens the clamping arms when the paver is removed. The springs store energy during the closing operation and release it to open the arms, or the gravity-assisted design allows the arms to swing open automatically, eliminating the need for workers to manually open the mechanism and reducing bending and strain
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 assembly effectively supports heavy pavers, reduces worker fatigue by allowing secure transport and precise placement of large tiles without manual opening, minimizing strain and injury risks, and allows for close proximity positioning of tiles, improving efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The terminal ends of the first and second arms opposite from the hinge form an angled end, or gripping end, that is operatively arranged to clamp the opposite sides of a paver/tile
Implementation Method 2
a two (2) person handle that comprises a generally horizontally oriented handle member that is connected to a generally vertically oriented support member that is detachably secured to a hinged clamping member
Data Source
AI summary
A masonry transport assembly for carrying a paver, tile, or quarried stone is disclosed. The masonry transport assembly generally includes a hinged clamping member including a first arm having a first length, a second arm having a second length, a hinge pivotally connecting the first arm and the second arm, a terminal gripping angled end extending from each of the first and second arms and on ends thereof opposite the hinge, a release mechanism secured to at least one of the first arm or the second arm, and, a mounting eyelet connected to at least one of the first arm or the second arm operatively arranged to receive and connect the support member.