Motorized Rolling System for Flexible Erosion Mats

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for rolling up flexible erosion-prevention mats are labor-intensive due to their heavy weight and grid arrangement, making transportation inefficient and unsafe.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing a frame with friction elements and a motorized drive to roll up flexible sheets into coils, featuring endless friction surfaces and guide walls to align and spiral the mat efficiently, reducing manual labor and ensuring safe handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the flexible mat is made with a grid arrangement of concrete panels or blocks, then the mat provides sufficient structural strength for erosion prevention, but the coiled rolls become very heavy and the rolling process becomes labor intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidweight of coiled rolls

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

A fabric belt is introduced as an intermediary element between the concrete mat and the rolling mechanism. The fabric belt wraps around the mat and is fed through rollers, allowing the heavy concrete mat to be rolled up with controlled tension and minimal manual labor while maintaining the structural integrity of the concrete panels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical rolling process is replaced with a motorized rolling system that uses a fabric belt and rollers. The motorized mechanism automatically feeds the fabric belt and rolls the mat, substituting human physical effort with mechanical automation while handling the heavy weight of the concrete-embedded mat

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Strength

If the flexible mat is made with a grid arrangement of concrete panels or blocks, then the mat provides sufficient structural strength for erosion prevention, but the process of forming the coiled rolls becomes labor intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidease of rolling process

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical rolling process is replaced with a motorized rolling system that uses a fabric belt and rollers. The motorized mechanism automatically feeds the fabric belt and rolls the mat, substituting human physical effort with mechanical automation while handling the heavy weight of the concrete-embedded mat

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The rolling system is designed to automatically feed the fabric belt through the rollers and wrap it around the mat without continuous manual intervention. The system performs the rolling operation autonomously once initiated, reducing the need for ongoing manual labor and making the process easier to operate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Length of moving object

If the flexible mat is cut into shorter length mats for transportation, then the mats can be rolled into compact coils, but the rolls become very heavy and difficult to handle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelength of matVSAvoidease of handling

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A fabric belt is introduced as an intermediary element between the concrete mat and the rolling mechanism. The fabric belt wraps around the mat and is fed through rollers, allowing the heavy concrete mat to be rolled up with controlled tension and minimal manual labor while maintaining the structural integrity of the concrete panels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical rolling process is replaced with a motorized rolling system that uses a fabric belt and rollers. The motorized mechanism automatically feeds the fabric belt and rolls the mat, substituting human physical effort with mechanical automation while handling the heavy weight of the concrete-embedded mat

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables efficient and safe rolling of flexible mats into compact coils for easy transportation, minimizing manual labor and ensuring proper alignment and stability during the rolling process.

Implementation Method 1

a friction element mounted on the frame, the friction element having an endless friction outer surface with a sheet-engaging portion positioned to engage an end of the flexible sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS11161708B2System and method for rolling up a flexible sheet

Publication Date: 2021.11.02 MOTZ ENTERPRISES INC

AI summary

A system and method for rolling up a flexible sheet includes a frame; a friction element mounted on the frame and having an endless friction outer surface with a sheet-engaging portion to engage an end of the sheet; and a drive connected to the friction element to move the endless friction outer surface such that the sheet-engaging portions thereof move upwardly to engage the end of the flexible sheet and lift up and roll the end of the flexible sheet over on itself to form a roll. The method for rolling up the flexible sheet includes rotating the friction element and engaging the end of the flexible sheet with the endless friction outer surface such that the sheet-engaging portions move upwardly to engage the end of the flexible sheet and curl the end of the flexible sheet upwardly back over on itself to form a roll.