Landfill Tarp Coupler Assembly to Prevent Wire-Line Bunching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weight systems for landfill tarps face issues with chain and wire line retention, leading to damage and reduced coverage area due to bunching when wound and unwound, and require manual labor for secure placement and removal, which is time-consuming and hazardous.
Innovation Solution
A weight system with parallel chains and wire lines retained within sleeves, utilizing elongated couplers with eyelets and hollow recesses to securely attach wire lines to chains and the tarp, allowing free rotation and preventing bunching, ensuring widespread coverage and minimizing damage during winding and unwinding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wire lines are secured inside the sleeve by sewing or other methods, then the wire lines are retained in position, but the wire lines can punch through the sleeves causing damage to the tarp and machinery
Solution Approach 1:
A coupler body serves as an intermediary component between the wire line and the sleeve. The wire line passes through the coupler body which is then secured to the sleeve, preventing direct contact and potential punching through of the wire line against the sleeve while maintaining secure retention
Solution Approach 2:
The retention system is segmented into separate functional components: the coupler body for securing the wire line, the eyelet for chain attachment, and the sleeve for structural support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without causing damage to other parts
2Ease of operation
If the tarpaulin is wound on a spool, then the tarpaulin can be stored and transported, but the tarpaulin tends to bunch toward the center reducing coverage area
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler body with the wire line passing through it creates a dynamic tensioning system. As the tarp is wound onto the spool, the wire line tensioned by the coupler helps distribute the tarp evenly and prevents bunching, maintaining the tarp's radial arrangement and full coverage area when deployed
3Reliability
If personnel manually place weights on the tarpaulin, then the tarpaulin can be ballasted to prevent wind movement, but additional time and manual labor are required
Solution Approach 1:
The weight system is merged with the tarp structure by integrating chains and wire lines directly into the tarp assembly. The chains run lengthwise within sleeves and are connected to wire lines that traverse the tarp, creating a unified ballasting system that provides stability without requiring separate manual weight placement operations
Data Source
AI summary
A weight system for a landfill tarpaulin. A pair of parallel chains are retained within a pair of sleeves in the tarp. A plurality of parallel wire lines traverse the tarpaulin. A plurality of elongated coupler bodies are provided with each coupler body having a first end terminating in an eyelet, a second, opposed end terminating in a hollow recess, and an attached threaded protrusion to the underside of the body. A chain fastener passes through one eyelet, passes through one of the links of the chain, and passes through the sleeve of the tarp. A tarp fastener passes through a washer, passes through the tarp, passes through an optional washer, and is threadably connected to the elongated coupler body. Each end of the wire lines is received and held in place by the hollow recess.