Telescoping Support Assembly That Prevents Rod Decoupling in Manholes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for placing equipment inside manholes, such as sensors and cameras, suffer from imprecise positioning and unreliable assembly, leading to potential loss of equipment during monitoring and maintenance in sewer systems.
Innovation Solution
The use of novel supporting assemblies comprising a main tube with an area-narrowing feature and a telescoping rod with an area-expanding feature, secured by brackets on opposing sidewalls, allows for precise and secure positioning of equipment by preventing decoupling and ensuring stable engagement within the manhole environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current placement apparatus is used, then equipment can be placed in manholes, but positioning precision is poor and equipment may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The placement apparatus is divided into multiple segments: a main tube with area-narrowing feature, a telescoping rod with area-expanding feature, and brackets. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the area-narrowing feature provides precise positioning, while the area-expanding feature ensures secure engagement, resolving the contradiction between positioning precision and equipment security
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping rod is nested within the main tube, with the area-expanding feature on the rod fitting into the area-narrowing feature of the tube. This nesting arrangement allows the equipment to be securely held in a retracted position while enabling extended reach when needed, simultaneously achieving equipment security and positioning precision
2Length of moving object
If telescoping rod is used for reach, then equipment can access deep manholes, but rod may decouple from main tube
Solution Approach 1:
The area-narrowing feature is located at a specific position on the main tube, creating a localized engagement zone. This local quality ensures that when the telescoping rod is extended, the area-expanding feature engages with the area-narrowing feature at this specific location, preventing decoupling while maintaining the extended reach capability
Solution Approach 2:
The area-narrowing feature is pre-configured on the main tube to anticipate and prevent the decoupling of the telescoping rod. By having this engagement feature in place before the rod is inserted, the system proactively prevents the reliability issue of decoupling while allowing the rod to extend for increased reach
3Measurement precision
If equipment is securely fixed, then positioning is precise, but installation and removal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping rod provides dynamic adjustability, allowing the equipment to be positioned at different distances from the main tube. The rod can be extended or retracted as needed, and the area-expanding feature can be manually engaged or disengaged from the area-narrowing feature, enabling both precise positioning and easy installation/removal
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
The solution enables precise and reliable placement of monitoring and maintenance equipment inside manholes, preventing equipment loss and ensuring accurate data collection while allowing for easy installation and removal, thus enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the outer-telescoping surface slidably passes through and establishes a first frictional contact with the first inner surface of the area-narrowing feature
Implementation Method 2
the second outer surface is free to slidably engage and establish a second frictional contact with the interior-main surface
Data Source
AI summary
Supporting assemblies for supporting a suspended load and processes relating thereto are described. An exemplar supporting assembly includes: (i) an area-narrowing feature including a first inner surface defining a first aperture; (ii) a main tube including an interior-main surface defining a cavity having disposed therewithin the area-narrowing feature; (iii) an area-expanding feature including a second outer surface; and (iv) a telescoping rod including an outer-telescoping surface having disposed thereon the area-expanding feature. In an assembled state of the supporting assembly, the outer-telescoping surface slidably passes through and establishes a first frictional contact with the first inner surface, and the second outer surface slidably engages and establishes a second frictional contact with the interior-main surface. In this configuration, the area-narrowing feature and the area-expanding feature facilitate slidable engagement of the telescoping rod to expand out of or retract inside, without decoupling from, the main tube.