Plastic Shaft Wall Elements with Mitered Corners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shafts embedded in the ground for cable distribution face challenges in withstanding earth pressure and require costly and complex assembly methods, while also needing to accommodate varying depths and heights efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The shaft is composed of flat, plate-shaped plastic hollow chamber profiles with mitered ends that connect securely at 45° corners under earth pressure, allowing for easy assembly without screws or glue, and can be stacked for adjustable height using latching lugs and grooves, with optional corner connectors for transport and installation stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wall elements are non-positively connected at corners to form a peripheral frame, then assembly is simple, but the shaft cannot withstand earth pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful earth pressure into a beneficial force that presses the mitered wall elements together at the corners. The 45° miter surfaces are designed to be pressed firmly against each other by the earth pressure, creating a stable rectangular shaft wall without requiring additional fastening systems. This transforms the external load into a self-locking mechanism that secures the structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If wall elements are mitered at 45° corners, then structural stability under earth pressure is achieved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mitered wall elements are designed to self-assemble at the corners through direct contact of their 45° surfaces. The earth pressure automatically presses these surfaces together to form a stable rectangular configuration, eliminating the need for external brackets, fasteners, or complex joining mechanisms. The structure serves itself by using the applied load to secure its own components.
3Ease of manufacture
If wall elements are made of plastic hollow chamber profiles, then production cost is reduced, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes plastic hollow chamber profiles that combine material efficiency with structural performance. The hollow chamber design provides structural strength while reducing material consumption and production costs through the extrusion process. The geometry of the hollow chambers is optimized to maintain rigidity and load-bearing capacity despite the use of lightweight plastic material.
4Length of moving object
If shaft height is increased by stacking wall elements, then capacity is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is divided into modular wall elements of standardized heights (e.g., 400 mm each) that can be stacked vertically to achieve the required total height (e.g., 800 mm). Each module is self-contained with standardized connection features, allowing simple vertical stacking without complex assembly mechanisms. This segmentation enables flexible height adjustment while maintaining assembly simplicity.
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 solution provides a cost-effective, tool-free assembly method that maintains structural stability under earth pressure, reduces subsoil load, and allows for modular adjustment of shaft height, ensuring reliable performance without the need for additional fastening systems.
Implementation Method 1
the wall elements are pressed firmly together at the 45° miter surfaces by the earth pressure and in this way form a stable rectangular shaft wall
Implementation Method 2
The wall elements are frictionally connected to each other at the corners via corner elements and connecting elements
Implementation Method 3
The detents and the locking grooves have such a wall thickness that they are elastically deformable
Data Source
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AI summary
The shaft has a shaft wall, which is composed of wall elements. The wall elements are hollow chamber profiles that are made of plastic. The wall elements have a plane shape. The wall elements are machine-cut on the lateral ends and lie against each other on the corners of the shaft wall. The wall elements have a chamber, in which reinforcing profiles made of steel are inserted.