Leveling Means for Uneven Layer Insulation Stacks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional packing and transport units for flat roof insulation with an uneven number of layers pose logistical challenges, including the risk of sliding during transport and complex stacking, due to their sloping top surface, which complicates handling and storage.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a leveling means, such as carrying feet of different heights or a pressure-resistant material strip, ensures the top plane of the transport unit remains parallel to the support surface, allowing for stable stacking and handling without the need for specific orientation, thereby standardizing the unit for conventional logistics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If insulation elements with an uneven number of layers are stacked, then the insulation thickness requirement is met, but the top surface becomes sloping causing sliding risk and complex stacking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation thicknessVSAvoidstacking stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A leveling element acts as an intermediary component between the insulation elements and the support means. This leveling element compensates for the sloping top surface created by stacking an uneven number of inclined insulation elements, providing a horizontal bearing surface that prevents sliding and enables stable stacking of additional transport units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If carrying feet have uniform height, then the structure is simple, but the top surface of uneven-layer stacks becomes sloping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrying feet structureVSAvoidtop surface parallelism
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The carrying feet are designed with different heights at different locations (local variation) to match the sloping geometry of the insulation elements. Specifically, one carrying foot has a greater height than the other, creating a leveled top surface that is parallel to the support surface despite the inclined nature of the insulation elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If transport units are stacked to maximize truck space, then transportation efficiency is improved, but handling difficulty increases due to height constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetruck space utilizationVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The leveling element creates a horizontal (equipotential) top surface on the transport unit, ensuring that stacked units have consistent bearing surfaces. This facilitates stable stacking to maximize truck space while maintaining ease of handling, as workers can safely access and maneuver units with predictable, level top surfaces rather than sloping ones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Data Source

PatentEP3049347B1Packing- and/or transport unit
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 ROCKWOOL INT AS
  • EP3049347B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP3049347B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP3049347B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A packing and/or transport unit (1) comprising several insulation elements (4) for flat roof insulation, wherein each insulation element (4) has four side faces (7) being arranged rectangular to each other, a lower surface and an upper surface, the lower and upper surfaces being connected to the side faces (7) and being arranged spaced apart and non- parallel to each other. The insulation elements (4) are arranged in layers in at least one stack (2) on at least one support means (3) being arranged under the stack (2), which support means (3) comprises at least two carrying feet (10) arranged for resting on a support surface (6). The stack (2) comprises an uneven number of layers of insulation elements (4), and the packing and/or transport unit (1) comprises at least one leveling means ensuring that a top plane (15) of the packing and/or transport unit (1) is arranged substantially parallel to the support surface (6).