Modular Entrance Floor Sections for Safer Debris Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing entrance floor systems are cumbersome and hazardous to install and maintain, require frequent cleaning, and lack customization and flexibility, leading to inefficient debris removal and safety hazards due to uneven usage and accumulation of debris.
Innovation Solution
A modular entrance floor system comprising interchangeable floor sections with a base plate permanently coupled to the foundation and a removably attached surface plate, featuring drain features and adjustable fastening for easy maintenance and customization, allowing independent removal and replacement of surface plates without affecting adjacent sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large gratings span the entire entrance floor area, then debris removal capability is improved, but installation and maintenance become hazardous and require numerous service personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The entrance floor system is divided into multiple modular grate sections that can be independently installed and maintained. Each section spans a portion of the entrance area rather than the entire area, reducing the weight and size of individual components while maintaining overall debris removal capability through the collective coverage of multiple sections.
2Adaptability or versatility
If roll-up designs with flexible hinge members are used, then installation flexibility is improved, but the system remains prone to installation and maintenance problems due to elongated rigid rails extending over the entire area
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple discrete modular grate sections instead of continuous elongated rails. Each module is self-contained with standardized dimensions, allowing flexible arrangement and easy replacement of individual sections without affecting the entire system.
3Weight of moving object
If floor mats are used instead of metal gratings, then weight and handling difficulty are reduced, but cleaning frequency increases and debris accumulation capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The grate modules feature openwork designs with gaps and voids that allow debris to pass through to the foundation level. This porous structure provides high debris accumulation capacity while maintaining lightweight construction, eliminating the need for frequent cleaning compared to solid floor mats.
4Reliability
If the entire entrance floor area must be removed for debris collection, then complete debris removal is achieved, but maintenance time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The modular grate sections are designed to be independently removable from the foundation. Maintenance personnel can access and remove individual sections containing debris without disturbing adjacent sections, enabling targeted cleanup that significantly reduces maintenance time compared to removing the entire floor area.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows extraction of only the specific grate sections that contain debris or require maintenance. This selective removal approach maintains the integrity of the overall system while minimizing the scope of maintenance operations.
5Strength
If prior art designs are used, then structural strength is provided, but customization and aesthetic flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The modular grate sections can be manufactured in various sizes, shapes, and patterns to match different architectural requirements. Each module maintains structural strength through standardized rigid construction while the system as a whole can be customized through different arrangements and designs of the modular units.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized modular sections serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, enable customization through various configurations, facilitate easy installation and maintenance, and allow for aesthetic differentiation. The same basic module type can be used throughout the system while creating varied visual effects through arrangement and orientation.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular entrance floor system comprising a plurality of floor sections, the plurality of floor sections being disposed adjacent each other and defining a perimeter of an entrance floor area. Each floor section includes a base plate permanently coupled to a foundation, and a surface plate removably attached to the base plate. The surface plate has at least one drain feature. The plurality of floor sections are configured such that the surface plate of a first floor section is interchangeable with the surface plate of a second floor section, independent of the adjacent floor sections.