Modular Vault Panels With Protrusions And Clips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current underground utility vaults are either bulky and difficult to assemble or fragile, failing to provide sufficient protection to buried utilities from environmental and vandalism-related damage.
Innovation Solution
A modular utility vault system comprising panels with protrusions and clips that form a trapezoidal prism shape, featuring strengthening ribs and a removable cover panel with a pedestal or cabinet mounting section, allowing for easy assembly, disassembly, and enhanced protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional underground utility vaults are made robust for protection, then protection capability is improved, but assembly difficulty increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vault is divided into multiple modular panels that can be easily assembled and disassembled. Each panel is a self-contained unit with standardized connection interfaces, allowing the robust vault structure to be built from manageable segments without requiring complex assembly procedures.
2Ease of operation
If traditional underground utility vaults are made easy to assemble, then ease of operation is improved, but structural strength decreases and protection capability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple panels are combined using clip mechanisms that securely join the panels together to form a structurally sound vault. The merging of panels through standardized clips creates a unified strong structure while maintaining the ease of assembly and disassembly of individual panel units.
3Ease of operation
If modular panels are used with protrusions and clips, then ease of assembly is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The panel connection system uses self-aligning protrusions and clips that automatically guide the assembly process. The protrusions on adjacent panels naturally align and engage with corresponding clips, allowing the panels to self-assemble without requiring complex alignment procedures or additional fastening operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular utility vault system can include a plurality of panels, a clip, and a cover panel. Each panel can include a first side including a first protrusion, a second side including a second protrusion, a lower side having a first length, and an upper side having a second length. The second length is less than first length. The first side of a panel of the plurality of panels is configured to abut the second side of a second panel thereby causing the first protrusion to abut the second protrusion. The clip can be configured to hold the first protrusion to the second protrusion.