Inflatable Enclosure Cover Assembly With Elastic Tensioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inflatable enclosures with self-supporting structures face issues of manufacturing inefficiencies due to geometric non-compliance, fold formation leading to water accumulation, and increased production costs from reworking assemblies to correct these issues.
Innovation Solution
An elastic strip is interposed between the cover and the inflatable beam along their longitudinal dimensions to exert continuous tension, absorbing manufacturing tolerances and preventing fold formation, thereby eliminating the need for reworking and improving appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cover and beam are assembled using traditional methods (sewing, adhesive bonding, welding), then the structure can be manufactured, but manufacturing productivity decreases and production cost increases due to the need for reworking assemblies with geometric non-compliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an elastic strip that changes its physical state (from relaxed to tensioned) to accommodate geometric variations. The elastic strip's ability to stretch and tension dynamically adjusts the assembly parameters, allowing covers with manufacturing tolerances to be successfully assembled without reworking, thereby maintaining high productivity while simplifying the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic strip acts as an intermediary element between the cover and the beam. It mediates the connection by absorbing geometric non-compliance through its elasticity, eliminating the need for complex reworking operations and reducing both manufacturing complexity and costs while maintaining productivity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the cover is fastened directly to the beam without an elastic strip, then the assembly process is simpler, but folds form in the joining region causing water accumulation and structure collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic strip changes its physical state from relaxed to tensioned upon assembly, dynamically adjusting the tension parameters in the covering. This continuous tension prevents fold formation and water accumulation, ensuring structural reliability while maintaining assembly simplicity. The elastic strip's parameter change (elongation) accommodates geometric variations without complex assembly procedures.
3Productivity
If the cover is fastened directly to the beam without an elastic strip, then the manufacturing process is faster, but the visual appearance degrades due to folds and the quality of the enclosure is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic strip's ability to change its physical state from relaxed to tensioned provides continuous tension that eliminates folds and improves appearance quality. This parameter change mechanism allows the cover to maintain a smooth, aesthetically pleasing surface throughout the manufacturing process and during use, achieving high appearance quality without sacrificing manufacturing speed.
4Manufacturing precision
If an elastic strip is interposed between the cover and beam, then folds are prevented and appearance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic strip serves as a simple intermediary element that prevents folds and improves appearance quality. Despite being an additional component, its function is straightforward - it tensions the cover to eliminate folds. The complexity increase is minimal compared to the significant improvement in appearance quality, and the strip's simple elastic nature keeps the overall system relatively simple.
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
Enhances manufacturing productivity, reduces production costs, and ensures a smooth, water-resistant enclosure with improved visual quality by continuously tensioning the cover and beam assembly.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic strip, which runs along said longitudinal dimensions, is interposed between said cover and said beam... to continuously exert elastic tension between the assembled parts
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable enclosure (1) has an inflatable structure (2) comprising at least one inflatable beam (10) and a cover (3) supported by the structure, wherein the cover (3) comprises a longitudinal dimension (3L) for fastening to a corresponding longitudinal dimension (10L) of the beam. An elastic strip (20), which runs along the longitudinal dimensions (3L, 10L), is interposed between the cover and the beam.