Pipe Vault Support With Ratchet Strap and Folding Foot

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipe support systems for embedding pipes in floor structures face issues with a small contact surface against the substrate, leading to potential cracking during manual nailing and require time-consuming pre-drilling, making the process inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A vault support system featuring a clamping strap with a ratchet device and a support leg with a folding joint, providing a large contact surface and allowing for adjustable height and efficient mounting, using impact-resistant plastic materials and a ratchet mechanism for secure clamping, along with a support foot for enhanced stability and alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a fixed arc-shaped portion is used to connect the pipe support to the substrate, then the pipe support can be fastened to the substrate, but the contact surface is small and manual nailing tends to crack the portion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening strengthVSAvoidcracking of support portion
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support portion is divided into multiple discrete fastening elements (nails or screws) distributed across a larger contact area, rather than relying on a single arc-shaped connection point. This segmentation distributes the fastening forces and prevents concentration of stress that causes cracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection interface is transitioned from a one-dimensional arc-shaped line contact to a two-dimensional planar contact surface. This dimensional expansion provides a larger area for fastening and reduces stress concentration, eliminating the cracking problem while maintaining fastening strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If pre-drilling is performed to avoid cracking during nailing, then cracking is prevented, but the mounting process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecracking preventionVSAvoidmounting time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The support portion is designed to be self-reinforcing or self-protecting during the fastening process. The material composition or structural design allows direct nailing without pre-drilling, as the structure itself prevents cracking through its inherent properties (such as flexibility, distributed fastening points, or material toughness).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The material properties or geometric parameters of the support portion are modified to enable direct fastening. This could involve changing the material to be more crack-resistant, adjusting the thickness or density, or modifying the fastening pattern to distribute loads, thereby eliminating the need for time-consuming pre-drilling operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If a fixed arc-shaped portion is used for fastening, then the pipe support can be secured to the substrate, but the contact surface is small reducing pressure distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening capabilityVSAvoidcontact surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening interface is expanded from a linear arc-shaped contact to a two-dimensional planar contact surface. This provides both adequate fastening capability and sufficient contact area for pressure distribution, simultaneously addressing both requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening function is segmented into multiple discrete fastening points distributed across a larger contact area, achieving both secure fastening and improved pressure distribution through the expanded surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The vault support system enables efficient and secure embedding of pipes with reduced risk of substrate damage, allowing for quick and precise height adjustment and mounting, thereby saving time and ensuring stable pipe positioning.

Implementation Method 1

The ratchet device is preferably formed with teeth placed on one inner side of the strap and which co-operate with similar hooks on the outer side of the strap in an area for the joining of the clamping strap. Alternatively, the teeth are placed on the outer side of the strap which teeth co-operate with similar teeth placed outside the clamping strap in an area of a support leg fastened permanently to the clamping strap. The teeth are obliquely directed so that they snap over each other when the clamping strap is tightened around the object.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRatchet mechanism: Ratchet

Implementation Method 2

The outer end of the support leg is provided with a support foot, which is connected to the support leg via a folding joint, for instance a hinge.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHinge mechanism: Hinge

Data Source

PatentEP3690297B1Vault support
Publication Date: 2022.03.16 FALUPLAST
  • EP3690297B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b
  • EP3690297B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

Vault support (12) comprising a clamping strap (17), which is arranged to cooperate with a ratchet device (19) arranged to fix the clamping strap (17) into essentially steplessly variable surround lengths around an object, for instance a pipe, which clamping strap (17) furthermore is permanently attached to a support leg (16) which in mounted state of the clamping strap (17) around the object, for instance the pipe, is directed straight out from the object, for instance, essentially in radial direction out from the pipe, and that the outer end of the support leg (16) is provided with a support foot (13), the support foot (13) being connected to the support leg (16) via a folding joint (18), for instance a hinge.