Pedestal Head Locator for Raised Access Floor Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing raised access floor systems face challenges in aligning panel holes with pedestal holes, require fasteners for lateral stability, and suffer from a teeter-totter effect due to cantilevered loading, making assembly time-consuming and prone to movement.
Innovation Solution
A pedestal head system with a base and upper support featuring projections or tabs that locate and secure the panel without fasteners initially, allowing for easy alignment and stable installation, and a method involving a pedestal head locator with U-shaped supports and apertures to receive panel projections, enabling quick clamping and load transfer to the center axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flat head bolt is used to attach the panel to the pedestal, then the panel can be fastened to the pedestal, but the alignment of the hole in the panel with the hole in the pedestal must be done by eye by trial and error, making lining up difficult and assembly time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
A locating projection extends from the base of the pedestal head to engage in a corresponding receiver in the panel. This intermediary locating feature guides the panel into proper alignment with the pedestal, eliminating the need for trial and error alignment by eye and significantly reducing assembly time.
2Stability of the object's composition
If fasteners are disposed in the holes to provide lateral stability, then the panel gains lateral stability, but the panels cannot be installed without the fasteners, increasing assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The locating projection and receiver act as intermediary features that provide lateral stability during installation. The projection engages the receiver to prevent lateral movement of the panel relative to the pedestal, allowing the panel to be securely positioned before the fastener is fully installed, thereby simplifying the overall assembly process.
3Strength
If the load on the panel is cantilevered out past the centre axis support of the pedestal, then the panel can be supported, but it causes a teeter-totter effect when loaded, causing movement in the system from panel to panel as loads are moved
Solution Approach 1:
The locating projection extending from the base of the pedestal head serves as an intermediary support element that positions the panel load directly over the center axis of the pedestal. This eliminates the cantilevered loading condition that causes the teeter-totter effect, ensuring that loads are transferred vertically to the pedestal center and preventing panel-to-panel movement as loads are moved across the floor system.
Data Source
AI summary
A pedestal head for a floor panel comprises includes a base for a lower part of a floor panel and an upper support for receiving an upper part of a floor panel. The pedestal head has a receiver or projection for receiving and locating a corresponding projection or receiver of the floor panel The pedestal head may be die formed from a single piece of metal.