Rectangular Mat With Barbed Prongs For Stacked Fluid Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mat systems for fluid and particulate material containment, particularly in subsurface drainage and storage, face challenges in securely stacking and arranging mats to resist lateral forces and displacement, as they are typically limited to square configurations and simple compression fittings.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a rectangular mat configuration with a specific array of tubular support members, featuring equiangularly arranged male prongs and female receptacles, allowing for staggered and orthogonal arrangements, and enhanced connectivity through barbed prongs and cooperating structures, which increases structural strength and resistance to displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simple compression fittings are used for stacking mats, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of attachment and resistance to lateral forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The male prong of one tubular support member is inserted into the female receptacle of a tubular support member in an adjacent mat, creating a nested connection that provides secure attachment while maintaining simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism transitions from simple compression (one-dimensional) to a multi-dimensional connection involving insertion, engagement of barbed prongs with receptacles, and lateral interlocking, providing enhanced reliability without significant complexity increase
2Manufacturing precision
If square-shaped mats are used, then the manufacturing precision and standardization are improved, but the adaptability for different stacking arrangements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mat configuration uses a rectangular array of tubular support members with different dimensions in length and width directions, enabling asymmetric stacking arrangements such as staggered patterns while maintaining standardized manufacturing of individual mats
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized tubular support members with universal male prong and female receptacle connections can be arranged in multiple configurations (square, rectangular, staggered, orthogonal), allowing the same mat component to serve multiple stacking arrangement functions
3Manufacturing precision
If tubular support members are arranged in a fixed array, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the adaptability for staggered and orthogonal arrangements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mat is segmented into discrete tubular support members with standardized spacing, allowing these segments to be reconfigured in different patterns (staggered, orthogonal, rectangular) while maintaining precise manufacturing of each individual member and its connection points
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed array of tubular members during manufacturing transitions to a dynamic, reconfigurable structure during assembly, where the same standardized members can be arranged in various configurations through the male prong-female receptacle connection system
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 configuration enhances the structural integrity by allowing mats to be arranged like LEGOs, improving resistance to lateral forces and displacement, while enabling secure attachment and stacking, thus providing a more robust and adaptable system for fluid and particulate containment.
Implementation Method 1
the barbed distal end 28 of the prong 22 serves to resist lateral forces
Implementation Method 2
a barbed distal end 28 of the prong 22 adapted to be inserted into an aperture 24
Data Source
AI summary
Tubular segments may be nestably interconnected, with the lower end of one tubular segment inserted into the upper end of another tubular segment. A mat formed of such tubular segments, and a system formed of a plurality of such vertically stacked mats for containing fluids and particulate material, are also disclosed.