Pivoting Secondary Support Beam for Non-90° Formwork Angles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modular support frames for slab formwork struggle to adapt to wall sections with angles other than 90°, posing safety risks for operators and compromising the structural integrity of the formwork.

Innovation Solution

A secondary support beam with pivoting articulation and adjustable length, featuring connection structures of different widths to securely fit between primary beams at angles other than 90°, and length adjustment mechanisms that prevent rotation when walked upon.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If secondary support beams are positioned perpendicular to primary beams in a modular support frame, then the structure provides standard support for 90° wall sections, but it creates gaps and safety hazards when wall sections form angles other than 90°

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different wall anglesVSAvoidstructural integrity and operator safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting structures are made pivotable, allowing the secondary support beam to dynamically adjust its angle relative to the primary beams. This enables the beam to adapt to various wall angles (including non-90° angles) while maintaining secure connection and structural integrity, eliminating the gaps that create safety hazards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The length of the secondary support beam is made adjustable between a retracted position and an extended position. This parameter change allows the beam to reach different distances from the primary beams, enabling precise positioning to fill gaps and provide continuous support for various wall configurations, thereby improving both adaptability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the connecting structures have fixed width, then the manufacturing is simple, but the beam cannot be precisely positioned at various angles to fill gaps effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precision at various anglesVSAvoidconnecting structure design
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting structures incorporate pivotability, transforming from fixed-width rigid connections to dynamic adjustable connections. This allows the beam to be precisely positioned at various angles relative to primary beams, enabling effective gap filling for different wall configurations while maintaining manageable device complexity through standardized pivot mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the secondary support beam has fixed length, then the structure is simpler, but it cannot adapt to different spacing between primary beams or fill gaps at various angles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different beam spacing and anglesVSAvoidlength adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The secondary support beam incorporates a length adjustment mechanism that allows it to dynamically change between retracted and extended positions. This enables the beam to adapt to different spacing between primary beams and to reach appropriate positions when angled relative to walls, significantly improving versatility while adding only moderate complexity through telescopic or extendable design elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3073028B1Beam with hinged connection ends
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 ALPHI
  • EP3073028B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3073028B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3073028B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Secondary support beam (1) adjustable in length (L) having a first (9) and a second (10) pivoting connecting structures at its ends (2, 3). The first (9) and second (10) connecting structures extend in width by different distances (L2, L3).