Reinforced Support With Circumferential Rings For Impact Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing reinforced supports for building applications suffer from deformation due to hammer blows during disassembly, require complex machining processes, and incur high costs due to mechanical stress on materials and the need for multiple tools, while also posing safety risks with sharp ends.

Innovation Solution

A reinforced support design featuring an outer tubular element with a lower portion having unevenness in the form of transverse, longitudinally offset circular rings for impact resistance, machined using a single tool to minimize mechanical stress and prevent deformation, allowing for efficient and safe disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If continuous axial profiling is used to reinforce the outer tubular element, then impact resistance is improved, but mechanical stress on the material increases and original mechanical characteristics are considerably changed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidmechanical stress on material
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous axial profiling is segmented into discrete circumferential rings with projections. Instead of a continuous corrugated profile extending along the entire length, the reinforcement is divided into separate ring structures spaced apart axially. This segmentation reduces cumulative mechanical stress on the material while maintaining impact resistance at the reinforced locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcement is applied locally at specific circumferential positions rather than continuously along the entire tubular element. The projections are formed at discrete locations around the circumference, providing localized impact resistance where needed while preserving the original mechanical characteristics of the material in non-reinforced areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If continuous axial profiling with two different tools is used for machining, then impact resistance is improved, but machining costs and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidmachining efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The machining process merges the functions of two different tools into a single tool. The single tool is designed to both radially deform the inner surface and form the circumferential rings with projections, eliminating the need for separate machining operations and reducing overall machining time and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single machining tool is given multi-functionality to perform both the radial deformation of the inner surface and the formation of the circumferential reinforcement rings. This universal tool approach simplifies the manufacturing process and improves productivity by reducing the number of tool changes and setup operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If axial projections with pointed and sharp ends are used for reinforcement, then impact resistance is improved, but operator safety is compromised due to injury risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidoperator injury risk
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pointed and sharp ends of the axial projections are replaced with rounded or curved surfaces. The projections maintain their reinforcing function through their circumferential arrangement and radial deformation capability, while the rounded geometry eliminates the hazard of sharp points that could injure operators during handling or installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Strength

If axial profiling is used for reinforcement, then impact resistance is improved, but the reinforcing portion does not uniformly distribute the impact along the entire extent of the support

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoiduniform impact distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement pattern transitions from continuous axial symmetry to a distributed circumferential pattern with discrete rings. The circumferential rings with multiple projections around the circumference create a more uniform distribution of impact forces across different angular positions, preventing concentration of stress at specific axial locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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

The support effectively withstands tool impacts, reduces material stress, simplifies the machining process, and lowers production costs while ensuring operator safety, maintaining structural integrity throughout the disassembly process.

Implementation Method 1

having unevenness for imparting impact strength against impacts by working tools as the support is removed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact force distribution: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentEP3631121B1Reinforced support for building applications and method of forming such reinforced support
Publication Date: 2021.06.30 AMADIO & C SPA
  • EP3631121B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3631121B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3631121B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A reinforced support (1) for building applications comprising an outer tubular element (4) defining a longitudinal axis (L) and having a lower transverse plate (5) at a longitudinal end (2), for contact with a floor or a load-bearing structure and an inner tubular element (6), which is telescopically housed in the outer tubular element (4) along the longitudinal axis (K) and has an upper transverse plate (8) designed to contact a ceiling or a structure to be supported. The outer tubular element (4) comprises a substantially cylindrical side wall (13), which is divided into a substantially smooth upper portion (14) and a lower portion (15) having unevenness (16) for defining a reinforcement area (17) and for imparting impact strength against impacts by working tools as the support (1) is removed. The unevenness (16) of the lower portion (15) comprise a plurality of projections (19) arranged along substantially circular rings (20) lying on planes (ττ) that are transverse to and longitudinally offset from said longitudinal axis (L). A method of forming the above described reinforced support (1) for building applications.