Concrete Polishing Pad Lock with Protrusions and Voids
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing concrete polishing systems using power trowels suffer from disintegration of components, uneven wear of polishing discs, and difficult disc mounting and exchange, leading to unstable grinding and reduced operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A polishing system comprising a pad lock, pad, fixing ring, and polishing discs with protrusions and voids for secure engagement, and connecting elements for attachment to a power trowel, ensuring stability and easy disc exchange, featuring concave and convex curvatures for flexibility and resilience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polishing discs are mounted using splints in a disc assembly, then the ability to polish concrete surface is achieved, but the components disintegrate during prolonged use due to vigorous polishing forces
Solution Approach 1:
The pad is made of resilient fibrous material comprising voids that receive protrusions from the pad lock, creating a mechanical interlocking system. The porous structure of the pad allows the protrusions to engage firmly, preventing disintegration during vigorous polishing operations while maintaining component integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite construction where a pad made of resilient fibrous material is combined with a rigid pad lock featuring protrusions. This composite approach combines the flexibility and cushioning of the fibrous pad with the structural strength and geometric precision of the rigid pad lock, achieving both reliability and strength
2Ease of manufacture
If polishing discs are mounted using splints, then the disc assembly can be constructed, but mounting and exchange of polishing discs becomes difficult and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The polishing system is divided into separable components: the pad lock with protrusions, the pad, the fixing ring, and the polishing discs. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured and facilitates quick assembly and disassembly, enabling rapid mounting and exchange of polishing discs without complex tools or procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions on the pad lock automatically engage with the voids in the pad when components are assembled, creating a self-aligning and self-securing mechanism. This eliminates the need for complex fastening procedures or specialized tools, allowing operators to quickly mount and exchange discs through simple placement and engagement
3Reliability
If polishing discs are mounted using splints, then the disc assembly is formed, but the grip on the pad becomes unstable causing uneven grinding
Solution Approach 1:
The pad lock and fixing ring feature concave and convex curvatures that create a interlocking geometric relationship. The concave surface of the pad lock receives the convex surface of the fixing ring, and the protrusions engage with voids in the pad, creating multiple points of contact that distribute forces evenly and prevent unstable gripping or uneven grinding during operation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a polishing system (100) for providing a polishing finish to a concrete surface, said system comprises a pad lock (2) which, one a second surface (6) thereof, comprises a number of protrusions (32) which are able to enter into engagement with a voids (16) arranged on a first surface (12) of a pad (10) placed between a fixing ring and said pad lock. The use of such a system provides a higher degree of integrity during use of said polishing system.