Removable Grate Assembly for Drain Trough Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Accessing the interior of channeled drain troughs is often difficult and time-consuming due to the challenges of removing grate sections from these systems.

Innovation Solution

A two-part grate assembly with a grate frame and a removable grate section, featuring lugs and vertical projections for alignment and securing, along with an alignment bar to prevent lateral movement, allows for easy access and secure installation atop a channeled drain trough.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional fixed grate is used to cover the drain trough, then safety and debris prevention are improved, but access to the interior becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety and debris preventionVSAvoidtime to access interior

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The grate is divided into a fixed frame portion and a removable section portion. The frame remains in place to maintain safety and debris prevention, while the section portion can be easily removed to provide access to the interior of the drain trough.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a removable grate section is implemented, then access to the interior becomes easy and quick, but the complexity of the grate structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of accessVSAvoidgrate structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The section portion is extracted as a separate removable component from the traditional fixed grate structure. This allows the section to be independently removed for access while the frame remains installed, simplifying the access operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If the grate section is made removable for easy access, then operational efficiency is improved, but the risk of lateral movement and misalignment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidgrate section stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Alignment bars are introduced as intermediary elements between the frame and the section portion. These alignment bars prevent lateral movement of the removable section while allowing it to be easily inserted and removed, maintaining both operational efficiency and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7588392B2Removable grate

Publication Date: 2009.09.15 ZURN WATER LLC

AI summary

A two-part grate assembly for a channeled drain trough. The grate assembly has a grate frame that receives a removable grate section. The grate frame has lugs with vertical projections extending therefrom that define securing recesses that assist in aligning and securing the grate frame atop a drain trough. Additionally, the present invention is directed to the use of an alignment bar that prevents the grate section from sliding out of operating position within the grate frame by restricting lateral movement of the grate section. Further, the present invention is directed to a method of providing a grate assembly for a channeled drain trough having a grate frame that is adapted to receive a removable grate section.