Modular Aluminum Boating Supports for Rigidity and Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current boating structural supports made of wood lack uniformity and rigidity due to environmental exposure, while metal structures are difficult for craftsmen to work with in situ, leading to suboptimal performance and precision.
Innovation Solution
A modular metal structure using extruded aluminum alloys for boating structural supports, featuring standardized fastening elements and various connecting brackets, allowing for increased rigidity, uniformity, and reduced weight, with improved assembly precision and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wooden structures are used for boating structural supports, then ease of in-situ work by craftsmen is improved, but flexural rigidity and size uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The structure is divided into modular sections that can be assembled in-situ, combining the ease of wooden construction with the rigidity of metal. Each module contains standardized components that craftsmen can work with while achieving metal-level structural performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite construction combining metal elements for structural rigidity with design features that accommodate traditional craftsmanship. The modular metal sections integrate materials that provide both the required flexural rigidity and workability for in-situ assembly.
2Ease of manufacture
If wooden structures are used for boating structural supports, then ease of in-situ work by craftsmen is improved, but size uniformity over time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the structure into standardized metal modules with precise manufacturing tolerances (2-3mm over 6 metres), the invention maintains size uniformity while allowing in-situ assembly. The modular design ensures consistent dimensions that resist environmental degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from wood to metal alloys, fundamentally improving dimensional stability and size uniformity over time while maintaining workability through modular design and standardized connection systems.
3Strength
If metal structures are used for boating structural supports, then flexural rigidity is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular metal structure is divided into discrete sections with optimized local geometries, reducing overall weight while maintaining required flexural rigidity. Each module is sized and shaped to provide structural efficiency, achieving 30% weight reduction compared to traditional wooden supports.
4Strength
If non-modular metal structures are used, then structural integrity is improved, but storage requirements and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The structure is segmented into standardized modules that maintain structural integrity through optimized connection systems. The modular design reduces storage requirements and assembly complexity while preserving the structural performance of integrated constructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular modules are designed with universal connection features and standardized dimensions, allowing the same components to serve multiple structural functions. This universality reduces the variety of parts needed, simplifying storage and assembly while maintaining structural integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A structure for boating structural supports is disclosed, which structure includes a plurality of support sections (6, 7) preferably made of aluminium alloy, each of which includes a cavity (2) and connecting edges (3), which may be mechanically assembled according to different configurations by means of connecting brackets (15-17, 19). The aluminium alloy employed may preferably be of the EN 6060 T5 type, suitable for nautical use.