Hinged Plastic Stormwater Chamber for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing and handling of large molded plastic arch shape stormwater chambers are hindered by the need for expensive and large injection molding machines, and they pose challenges in storage and shipping due to their size and weight, limiting their volumetric capacity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The chambers are designed as separately molded half-chambers connected by hinges at the top, allowing them to be compactly stored and transported in a flattened configuration, which can be easily assembled into the arch shape for use, using a single plastic injection mold and various locking mechanisms to ensure stability and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If large chambers are molded as single pieces, then structural integrity is maintained, but manufacturing cost and handling difficulty increase due to requiring large injection molding machines
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is divided into two separate half-chambers that are molded individually using standard-sized injection molding machines, then joined together through interlocking features and adhesive bonding to form the complete arch-shaped chamber, eliminating the need for large specialized molding equipment
2Volume of moving object
If chambers are made with larger height to increase volumetric capacity, then water storage capacity improves, but storage and shipping efficiency deteriorates due to limited truck height capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is split into two half-chambers that can be nested within each other during shipping, significantly reducing the vertical space required for transportation and storage while maintaining the full volumetric capacity when assembled at the installation site
Solution Approach 2:
One half-chamber is placed inside the other half-chamber during shipping, creating a compact nested configuration that maximizes the number of chambers that can be transported on a single truck load, thereby improving shipping efficiency and reducing transportation costs
3Volume of moving object
If chambers are made with larger dimensions to increase capacity, then volumetric capacity improves, but handling difficulty increases due to greater weight and size
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is divided into two separate half-chambers that are easier to handle individually during manufacturing and installation, reducing the physical strain and equipment requirements compared to moving a single large chamber, while still providing the needed volumetric capacity when assembled
Data Source
AI summary
A molded plastic arch shape cross section stormwater chamber having a corrugated wall comprises separately molded half chambers which are connected by hinges at a joint at the top of the chamber. The chambers may be compactly stored and transported in splayed out configuration, with the arch is flattened out and the base flanges are widely separated. Near the point of use, the chambers are hinged to their arch shape use configuration. Preferably, the half chambers are substantially identical and are made in the same mold. Methods of molding the chambers enable providing a larger or smaller corrugation at one end of a chamber made from substantially identical half chambers.