Recessed Floor Tower Cover With Metal Reinforcement Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recessed floor-mounted electrical towers with rigid plastic covers are mechanically fragile and unable to support heavy loads, such as those encountered in industrial settings where vehicles may apply loads of hundreds of kilograms, while also requiring safe and easy access for operators.
Innovation Solution
A recessed floor-mounted tower design featuring a rigid plastic cover with a metal reinforcement plate and a braking device to manage heavy loads and ensure safe operation, including a braking mechanism to slow the cover's closing movement and a retractable lifting device for operator access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid plastic cover is used for the tower, then the cover can support the weight of persons or light vehicles, but the cover becomes mechanically fragile and cannot support heavy loads of hundreds of kilograms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining rigid plastic material with metal reinforcement elements (angle iron profiles or channel profiles) embedded within the cover structure. This composite construction allows the cover to support heavy loads of hundreds of kilograms while maintaining structural integrity and avoiding mechanical fragility, resolving the contradiction between load bearing capacity and mechanical reliability.
2Strength
If the cover is made thicker and more robust to support heavy loads, then load bearing capacity improves, but the weight of the cover increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a counterbalancing mechanism with weights that compensate for the heavy cover weight. The counterweights are adjustable and can be positioned to balance the cover, making it easy to open and close even though the cover itself is thick and robust to support heavy loads. This resolves the contradiction between strength and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements including a braking mechanism that provides controlled resistance during cover closure, and a lifting mechanism with counterweights that dynamically balance the cover weight. These dynamic mechanisms enable easy operation of a heavy, strong cover, resolving the contradiction between load bearing capacity and operational ease.
3Reliability
If a braking device is added to control cover closure, then operator safety improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a braking device as an intermediary mechanism between the cover and the tower body. This braking mechanism provides controlled resistance during cover closure, preventing the heavy cover from slamming shut and ensuring operator safety. The braking device is integrated into the existing hinge mechanism, minimizing additional complexity while significantly improving safety.
4Ease of operation
If a lifting device is added to facilitate cover opening, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a lifting mechanism based on counterweights that balance the heavy cover weight. The counterweights are connected through a system of cables and pulleys, allowing the cover to be easily lifted with minimal effort. This mechanical advantage system improves ease of operation while using simple, manufacturable components that do not significantly increase manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
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Figure 2b
AI summary
A recessed tower for floor-mounted electrical installations is described, comprising a container body (12) adapted to define a housing space (14) for electrical devices (16) and a closing cover (18) adapted to be arranged, in a closed position, at the level of a treadable plane. The cover (18) includes a metal reinforcement plate (20) arranged at the side facing towards said housing space (14) and a braking device (30) adapted to slow down the closing.