Replaceable Tarpaulin Junction Structure to Prevent Fiber Fraying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tarpaulins used to cover loads on vehicles often become frayed or damaged due to fluttering and puncture, necessitating replacement rather than repair, as traditional repair methods introduce weaknesses and are labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A tarpaulin system with a junction section that can be cut to separate damaged sections from the main tarpaulin, allowing for replacement with a new section while maintaining the integrity of the fibrous bodies, using thicker polymer layers to protect against fraying and incorporating reinforcement belts for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If traditional repair methods are used to fix damaged tarpaulin sections, then the tarpaulin can be repaired, but additional weaknesses are introduced by exposing the fibrous material at the cut edges
Solution Approach 1:
The tarpaulin is pre-divided into modular sections with predetermined cut lines at the junction section, allowing for easy identification and separation of damaged portions. The polymer layer is designed with sufficient thickness at the junction to protect fibers during the cutting process, preventing premature fraying before repair is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The tarpaulin is divided into separate replaceable sections (first section, second section, and junction section) that can be independently removed and replaced. This segmentation allows only the damaged portion to be replaced while maintaining the rest of the tarpaulin, avoiding the need to replace the entire structure.
2Reliability
If the entire tarpaulin is replaced when damaged, then structural integrity is maintained, but high labor costs and time are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The tarpaulin is segmented into modular sections that can be independently replaced. When damage occurs in one section, only that specific section needs to be removed and replaced, rather than replacing the entire tarpaulin. This significantly reduces both the time and labor costs associated with repairs.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the entire tarpaulin when one section is damaged, the intact sections are recovered and retained. Only the damaged section is discarded and replaced, maximizing the utilization of the original tarpaulin material and reducing waste.
3Ease of repair
If the tarpaulin is cut to remove damaged sections, then replacement is enabled, but the fibrous material becomes exposed and prone to further damage
Solution Approach 1:
The tarpaulin uses a composite structure with a polymer layer covering and embedding the fibrous material. At the junction section, the polymer layer is designed with sufficient thickness to protect the fibers during cutting operations and prevent fraying after section removal, while still allowing for clean separation at predetermined lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer layer thickness is varied locally: thicker at the junction section to protect fibers during cutting and prevent fraying, and optimized for the specific functional requirements of each tarpaulin section. This local variation in material properties balances protection with replaceability.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A tarpaulin (10) including two sections (20 and 22) linked to each other through a junction section (24). The tarpaulin (10) includes a fibrous body (30, 32 and 33) and a polymer layer (34, 36 and 37) covering or embedding at least part of the fibrous body (30, 32 and 33). The polymer layer (34, 36 and 37) is reinforced in the junction section (24) so that the latter can be cut and to remove one of the two sections (20 and 22) and to attach a replacement tarpaulin (38) to a the remaining one of the two sections (20 and 22) while protecting the fibers of the fibrous body (30, 32 and 33).