Inverted U-Profile Secondary Panel for Slab Formwork

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing modular slab formwork support structures pose challenges such as gaps between secondary beams causing instability, damage to plywood boards from fasteners, increased weight with mesh plates, and concrete adhesion to secondary panels without wooden plates, leading to user discomfort and structural issues.

Innovation Solution

A secondary panel with a one-piece inverted U-profiled cross-section, featuring lateral lugs and an eccentric longitudinal housing for plywood fixation, which provides rigidity, prevents concrete adhesion, and maintains spacing between panels to deter direct concrete pouring, while minimizing weight and material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If rigid spacers are used to connect secondary beams, then structural rigidity is improved, but gaps between beams cause user instability and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural rigidityVSAvoiduser stability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the secondary beams and plate into a single integrated secondary element, eliminating gaps between components. This merging provides both structural rigidity and continuous walking surface, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and user stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a plate (thin film) to fill the gap between secondary beams, creating a continuous surface that maintains structural integrity while providing user stability for walking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Strength

If fasteners (rivets or screws) are used to fix the plate to secondary beams, then structural connection is improved, but the protruding fasteners damage the plywood board faces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidplywood board damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the fastening approach by having fasteners attach from below the plate rather than from above. This reversal allows secure connection strength while preventing protruding fasteners from damaging the plywood board faces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the plate as an intermediary element between the fasteners and plywood boards. The plate conceals the fasteners and prevents direct contact between fasteners and boards, eliminating damage while maintaining connection strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the plate is fixed from below to avoid damaging plywood faces, then plywood protection is improved, but fastener deterioration becomes undetectable until plate detachment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplywood board protectionVSAvoidfastener wear detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates visual indicators (such as colored elements or markers) that provide feedback on the condition of fasteners. This allows users to detect fastener deterioration before plate detachment occurs, maintaining both plywood protection and detectability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Ease of operation

If mesh plate is used between secondary beams, then user confidence is improved, but the secondary panel weight increases making it difficult to handle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser confidenceVSAvoidsecondary panel weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a thin plate instead of a mesh structure, providing a solid continuous surface that gives user confidence while maintaining low weight for easy handling during erection and dismantling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP2952653B8Secondary panel for modular structure of slab formwork

Publication Date: 2017.05.10 ALPHI

AI summary

Secondary panel (1) for modular slab formwork support structure or similar, comprising a one-piece profile (3) with a cross-section substantially in the shape of an inverted U.