Modular Raised Floor System with Removable Column Closures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing modular systems for raised and aerated ribbed floors struggle to construct floors with reinforced concrete load-bearing columns exceeding 15 cm in diameter and are susceptible to cracking due to upward thrust from expanding soils, compromising horizontality.
Innovation Solution
A new modular system featuring base elements with flexible arms and stackable design, upper elements with angled support portions and central tubular columns with removable closures, allowing for reinforced pillars and preventing cement ingress, while accommodating varying column diameters and adjusting to soil expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If cylindrical or tubular column-shaped elements are used to create raised floors at greater heights, then the floor height is improved, but the system becomes unsuitable for constructing floors with reinforced concrete load-bearing columns exceeding 15 cm in diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The column-shaped elements are designed with a removable closing element at the upper end, transforming a static closed structure into a dynamic open structure during the concrete pouring process. This allows the same element to accommodate different column diameters (up to 25 cm) by removing the closing element, thereby resolving the contradiction between floor height capability and column diameter adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing element at the upper end of the column-shaped elements is designed to be separable into multiple portions that can be removed independently. This segmentation allows the opening to be adjusted to match different column diameters, enabling the system to construct reinforced concrete load-bearing columns of various sizes exceeding 15 cm while maintaining the same modular base element configuration.
2Ease of manufacture
If base elements are placed directly on expanding soils, then installation simplicity is improved, but upward thrust from soil expansion causes cracks and compromises horizontality
Solution Approach 1:
The base elements incorporate movable adjustment elements that allow the base to dynamically adapt to soil expansion forces. These elements enable the base to shift or adjust its position in response to upward thrust, preventing the transmission of expansion forces to the floor structure while maintaining installation simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The base elements are designed with adjustable parameters such as movable support surfaces or height-adjustable legs that can change in response to soil conditions. This allows the system to accommodate varying soil expansion without compromising the horizontality and stability of the installed floor structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If tubular column-shaped elements are left open during concrete pouring, then concrete can be cast inside to form pillars, but cement conglomerate enters and fills the aerated compartment below
Solution Approach 1:
The closing element at the upper end of the column-shaped elements is temporarily removed or extracted during the concrete pouring process to allow concrete to enter the tubular element and form reinforced pillars. After pouring, the closing element is reinstalled to prevent cement conglomerate from entering the aerated compartment below, thus resolving the contradiction between pouring ease and compartment integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing element acts as an intermediary component that controls the flow path of the cement conglomerate. By selectively positioning this closing element during different stages of construction, the system allows concrete to reach the column interior when needed while blocking access to the aerated compartment, thereby maintaining both pouring ease and compartment integrity.
Data Source
Figure 1~1a
Figure 2~2a
Figure 3~3b
AI summary
The invention is a system consisting of modular elements for making reinforced concrete floors, comprising a plurality of base elements (100) designed to be laid at modular and pre-established distances on a surface to be floored, a plurality of upper elements (300), a plurality of column-shaped elements (200) suited to be positioned vertically on said base elements (100), each column-shaped element (200) being suited to support at least one of said upper elements (300), and wherein at least one closing element or surface (330) is positioned so as to close said column (200), in such a way as to prevent the introduction of concrete inside the column-shaped element (200) itself.