Plastic Train Platform With Screw Foundations for Temporary Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing platforms are inflexible and unsuitable for temporary applications due to their firm anchoring in the ground, requiring excavation and concrete foundations, leading to high maintenance and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A platform system using glass fiber reinforced plastic planks and screw foundations that can be easily anchored in the ground without excavation, allowing for rapid assembly and disassembly, and made entirely of plastic except for steel screw foundations, enabling modular and flexible use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional platforms are firmly anchored in the ground using excavation and concrete foundations, then secure anchoring is achieved, but the platform becomes unsuitable for temporary applications and requires high maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The foundation system is segmented into separate screw foundation elements that can be individually installed and removed, rather than a monolithic concrete foundation. This allows the platform to be anchored securely when needed and easily dismantled when temporary use is required, resolving the contradiction between reliable anchoring and adaptability for temporary applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform system transitions from a static, permanently anchored state to a dynamic system where the screw foundations can be installed or removed as needed. This dynamic capability allows the platform to adapt between permanent and temporary applications, maintaining secure anchoring when installed while enabling flexibility when required.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional platforms use excavation and concrete foundations, then stable support is achieved, but construction time and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The screw foundations are pre-manufactured with precise threading and structural characteristics that enable immediate installation into the ground without requiring excavation or concrete pouring. This preliminary preparation of the foundation elements allows for rapid deployment while maintaining stable support, significantly reducing construction time compared to traditional methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical system of excavation and concrete pouring is replaced with a screw-based mechanical fastening system. The screw foundations can be directly screwed into the ground, providing stable support through threaded engagement and friction, eliminating the time-consuming processes of excavation, formwork, and concrete curing.
3Reliability
If traditional platforms use concrete foundations, then permanent anchoring is achieved, but CO2 footprint and environmental friendliness worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The material parameter of the foundation system is changed from concrete (high CO2 footprint) to screw-based metal or composite elements (lower CO2 footprint). The screw foundations provide equivalent or superior anchoring reliability while significantly reducing the embodied carbon and environmental impact associated with concrete production and excavation.
Solution Approach 2:
The screw foundation system enables easy disassembly and recovery of the anchoring elements from the ground without leaving residues or requiring demolition. The screw foundations can be unscrewed and reused for subsequent installations, reducing waste and the need for new materials, thereby lowering the overall CO2 footprint compared to permanent concrete foundations.
4Reliability
If platforms require grounding systems, then electrical safety is achieved, but maintenance requirements and operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The screw foundation system serves multiple functions simultaneously: mechanical anchoring of the platform structure and electrical grounding. By integrating the grounding function into the same screw foundation elements used for structural support, the system eliminates the need for separate grounding electrodes and reduces maintenance requirements while maintaining electrical safety.
Data Source
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AI summary
A platform (10) is proposed which includes at least one platform plank (11), wherein the platform plank (11) is made of a plastic, in particular a glass fiber reinforced plastic, and wherein the platform (10) includes at least one screw foundation (30) for anchoring the platform (10) in the ground.