Multi-Story Building Assembly Using Reusable Bridles and Lift Jacks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional methods for constructing multi-story buildings are inefficient in terms of material handling and labor-intensive, requiring specialized equipment and time-consuming operations due to the need for individual lifts and concrete pumping at each floor level.

Innovation Solution

A building assembly system that assembles floor plates at ground level and lifts them to designated elevations using a reusable bridle and lift jacks, allowing for sequential construction and efficient material distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional bottom-up construction methods are used with tower cranes for individual lifts, then structural elements can be assembled above ground level, but material handling efficiency deteriorates and labor intensity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction speedVSAvoidmaterial handling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by assembling complete floor plates at ground level before lifting them to their final positions. All structural elements, walls, floors, and mechanical systems are pre-assembled on the ground where material handling is efficient, then the completed floor plates are lifted as single units using hydraulic lift jacks, eliminating the need for repeated material handling at elevation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple construction operations into a single integrated process. Instead of assembling structural elements, walls, floors, and mechanical systems separately at elevation, all these components are combined into pre-assembled floor plate units at ground level, which are then lifted and installed as complete functional modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If tower cranes are used for thousands of individual lifts, then structural elements can be placed at various elevations, but the number of specialized equipment requirements increases and setup logistics become complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in element placementVSAvoidequipment and setup logistics
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional hydraulic lift jack system that can perform multiple operations: lifting floor plates to various elevations, positioning them horizontally, and securing them to the core structure. This single device replaces the need for tower cranes and multiple specialized lifting equipment, simplifying setup logistics while maintaining placement flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the lifting function from complex tower crane systems and concentrates it in simplified hydraulic lift jacks anchored to the core structure. By removing the unnecessary complexity of tower cranes and retaining only the essential lifting capability through hydraulic jacks, the system achieves the same versatility with reduced equipment complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If concrete is pumped to final elevation for each floor, then floor slabs can be cast in place, but time-consuming operations and specialized equipment are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvein-place concrete placementVSAvoidconcrete pumping time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by casting floor slabs and assembling all floor components at ground level before lifting, rather than performing concrete work at elevation. This allows concrete to be placed and cured in controlled ground-level conditions, eliminating the need for time-consuming concrete pumping operations to high elevations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If floor plates are assembled at ground level and lifted using hydraulic lift jacks, then material handling efficiency improves and construction time is reduced, but the complexity of the lifting system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction speedVSAvoidlift jack and bridle system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by designing the hydraulic lift jack system to be self-contained and self-regulating. The lift jacks are anchored to the core structure and automatically control the lifting, positioning, and securing of floor plates through integrated hydraulic mechanisms, reducing the need for external complex control systems and manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the bridle as an intermediary component that connects the hydraulic lift jacks to the floor plates. The bridle distributes lifting forces evenly across the floor plate structure and facilitates smooth transfer from ground level to final elevation, simplifying the interaction between the lift jacks and floor plates while maintaining system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This method enhances material and labor resource utilization by reducing the need for specialized equipment and time-consuming operations, facilitating faster and more efficient construction of multi-story buildings.

Implementation Method 1

The plurality of the lift jacks are operable to lift the bridle and the assembled floor plate to a design elevation on the vertical support core

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic press: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

each of the side beams having a plurality of movable bearing pads

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4074909B1Building assembly system and associated method
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 BIG TIME INVESTMENT LLC
  • EP4074909B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4074909B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4074909B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A building assembly system for fabricating a multi-story building is described, wherein the building includes a vertical support core arranged on a base. Lift jacks are arranged between a top portion and a bottom portion of the vertical support core, and a reusable bridle is suspended from the plurality of lift jacks and slidably arranged on the vertical support core. A floor plate is assembled onto the bridle at an assembly level that is proximal to the base. The plurality of the lift jacks are operable to lift the bridle and the assembled floor plate to a design elevation on the vertical support core, and are operable to lower the bridle to the assembly level on the vertical support core after the floor plate has been secured to the vertical support core at the design elevation.