Reflective Carbon-Fiber Sprinkler Rack for Collision Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sprinklers are prone to damage due to being buried underground with only the water outlet exposed, making them susceptible to damage from foot traffic and lawn maintenance equipment, leading to a shortened lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A garden sprinkler protecting rack covered with carbon fiber texture, designed as a hollow cone with a smaller top and larger bottom, featuring a flange with a through hole and dividing openings for supporting feet, providing protection and visibility while allowing water dispersion through the flange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the sprinkler is buried under the ground with only the water outlet end exposed, then the installation is simple and water can be sprayed evenly, but the sprinkler is prone to damage from foot traffic and lawn maintenance equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protecting rack as an intermediary structure between the sprinkler and external damage sources. The rack serves as a mediator that absorbs the impact from foot traffic and lawn maintenance equipment, preventing direct damage to the sprinkler body while maintaining the simplicity of underground installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The protecting rack is installed beforehand to cushion and absorb potential impact forces before they can reach the sprinkler. The rack's structural design allows it to bear the weight and impact from foot traffic and maintenance equipment, protecting the sprinkler in advance from damage.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the sprinkler is buried underground, then the usage time is extended by avoiding surface damage, but the visibility in dim environments is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a carbon fiber texture coating to the protecting rack, which provides light reflection properties. This coating changes the optical characteristics of the rack, enabling it to reflect ambient light and become visible in dim environments such as nighttime or early morning, while maintaining the underground burial configuration for durability.
3Reliability
If a protecting rack is introduced to cover the sprinkler, then the sprinkler is protected from collision and damage, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protecting rack is designed as a segmented structure with a rack body, supporting feet, and a top cover portion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while simplifying the overall assembly and installation process, reducing the complexity burden despite adding protective functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The protecting rack is designed with multi-functionality to justify the added complexity. It serves multiple purposes: protecting the sprinkler from physical damage, providing structural support, enabling water dispersion through the top cover, and improving visibility through the carbon fiber texture. This universal design justifies the increased device complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single structure.
4Volume of moving object
If the protecting rack is designed as a hollow cone with stacking space, then the storage space is saved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a conical curved geometry for the protecting rack body, which provides efficient stacking capability. The curved surface allows multiple racks to be stacked vertically with minimal space, improving storage efficiency. The conical shape is designed to be manufacturable using standard forming processes, balancing precision requirements with manufacturing feasibility.
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
Enhances visibility and durability by protecting sprinklers from collisions and damage, extends their service life, and offers a compact storage solution through stackable design.
Implementation Method 1
A garden sprinkler protecting rack is covered with a carbon fiber texture, the carbon fiber texture providing light reflection
Data Source
AI summary
A garden sprinkler protecting rack is covered with a carbon fiber texture, the carbon fiber texture providing light reflection. The protecting rack is a hollow cone with a smaller top and a larger bottom, so that an interior of the protecting rack provides a stacking space. the protecting rack has a top portion with a flange having a through hole, and a lower portion of the protecting rack has a plurality of dividing openings which forms a respective supporting foot between each dividing opening.