Top-Down Hydro-Demolition Rigid Frame for Tall Wall Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hydro-demolition methods face challenges when working on very tall structural surfaces, such as nuclear reactor walls, as they require machinery and workers to be positioned beneath the work-face, leading to safety hazards and limitations in reach due to high center of gravity and debris fall, making it difficult to effectively cut openings at substantial heights.

Innovation Solution

A top-down approach using a rigid support frame with a hydro-demolition device that mounts nozzles above the work-face, featuring a carriage that moves along a rail system, allowing for precise orientation and operation of nozzles at varying heights, and includes mechanisms for extension, retraction, and swinging to access and deconstruct structural surfaces safely and efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If bottom-up hydro-demolition approach is used with ground-mounted lift mechanisms, then the equipment can be positioned on the ground for operation, but the machinery and workers become exposed to falling debris and water, and the reach height is limited by stability constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePositioning of equipment on groundVSAvoidExposure to falling debris and water

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional bottom-up approach by mounting the hydro-demolition nozzles on a rigid support frame that extends upward from a platform positioned near the work-face, rather than lifting nozzles from the ground. This top-down configuration allows the heavy equipment to be supported by the platform at the work level, eliminating exposure to falling debris while achieving greater effective height through the extended rigid frame structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Length of stationary object

If bottom-up hydro-demolition approach is used with high lift mechanisms, then the nozzles can reach higher work-faces, but the high center of gravity renders the equipment unstable and hazardous

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveReach height of nozzlesVSAvoidStability of equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of lifting nozzles high from the ground which creates instability, the patent positions the heavy equipment and platform near the work-face height, then extends the rigid support frame upward to position nozzles at the required working height. This inverted approach maintains a low center of gravity on the stable platform while achieving high reach through the rigid extension structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure is divided into a stable platform portion positioned near the work-face and an extended rigid frame portion that reaches upward to the nozzle position. This segmentation allows the heavy equipment to be supported at a stable, lower height while the lighter frame extension provides the necessary reach, separating the stability function from the reach function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Length of stationary object

If conventional cherry-picker or crane devices are used for high wall deconstruction, then workers can access high work-faces, but workers must be positioned at or near the base of the wall creating safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccess height to work-faceVSAvoidWorker exposure to hazards at base of wall

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by positioning the heavy equipment and operators on a platform at the work-face height rather than at the base of the wall. The rigid support frame then extends upward from this elevated platform to position the nozzles at the required working height, allowing workers to operate from a safe, elevated position away from falling debris zones

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

Enables safe and precise cutting of openings on tall structural surfaces without the need for workers to be in hazardous positions, overcoming reach limitations and ensuring stability, thus facilitating deconstruction of large structures like nuclear reactor walls.

Implementation Method 1

Hydraulic demolition, also known as hydro-demolition, is a well-known art practiced by forcing an erosive material, generally a liquid such as water, through nozzles at sufficiently high pressure to produce a jet stream that disintegrates the materials of which buildings and structures are made

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectErosion: Erosion

Data Source

PatentUS8827373B2Top-down hydro-demolition system with rigid support frame

Publication Date: 2014.09.09 MAC & MAC HYDRODEMOLITION

AI summary

The subject matter of the invention disclosed herein is a hydro-demolition device and a top-down method for deconstructing structural surfaces. The device includes a rigid support frame mounted above a work-face on the structural surface being deconstructed. The rigid frame supports a cutting nozzles that move up and down along the structural surface. The nozzles may be mounted on a carriage that is movably connected to the rigid frame. The carriage may swing about a swing axis so that the nozzles move axially toward and away from the carriage. The nozzles may be movable toward and away from the work-face. The various movements of the nozzles are effectuated by rotators and drivers.