Rubber Covering Anchoring in Grid Floor Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing longitudinal slatted grating elements with rubber coverings face challenges such as incomplete sealing, dampened vibration, and poor anchoring, leading to irregular surfaces and potential concrete leakage.

Innovation Solution

The method involves placing rubber coverings on compacted earth-moist concrete and pressing them in with a pressure device while shaking, allowing displaced concrete to flow and fill uncovered areas, ensuring a flat surface and strong anchoring by vibrating larger stones down and keeping fine aggregates above.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rubber coverings are placed on the vibrating plate before concrete pouring, then the rubber surface can be protected, but the sealing between mold and rubber is difficult to achieve and concrete leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The rubber covering is placed on the vibrating plate before concrete pouring, but the pressing-in action is delayed until after pouring. This preliminary positioning allows the rubber to be in place for protection while avoiding the sealing problem during vibration, as the concrete itself will press the rubber against the mold floor to create the seal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Strength

If rubber coverings are placed on the vibrating plate, then the rubber surface is protected, but the vibrating energy is dampened and anchoring is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanchoring strengthVSAvoidvibration energy transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The rubber covering is positioned on the vibrating plate beforehand, but the critical pressing-in action that creates anchoring occurs after concrete pouring. The fresh concrete allows the rubber to be pressed in deeply with anchoring elements that engage the concrete, achieving strong anchoring without the rubber being present during the vibration compaction phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fresh concrete acts as an intermediary medium that enables the rubber covering to be pressed in and anchored. The concrete's plastic state allows the rubber to be forced into the concrete matrix, creating mechanical interlocking, while the rubber itself does not interfere with the vibration energy transmission during compaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If rubber coverings are pressed into fresh concrete after pouring, then strong anchoring is achieved, but the surface may become irregular

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanchoring strengthVSAvoidsurface flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The displaced concrete from pressing in the rubber covering automatically flows to fill the uncovered areas and level the surface. The concrete's own流动性 (fluidity) serves to self-correct the surface irregularities created by the rubber pressing-in process, eliminating the need for additional leveling operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If the entire surface is covered with rubber coverings, then complete protection is achieved, but concrete cannot flow to fill all areas and surface leveling is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection completenessVSAvoidsurface processing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of covering the entire surface with rubber, the invention applies rubber coverings only to specific areas where protection is needed. This selective coverage allows concrete to flow freely into uncovered areas, naturally filling and leveling the surface without requiring additional processing, while still providing protection where required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 approach eliminates sealing issues, provides a clean and flat surface, and ensures a strong, force-fitting connection between the rubber and concrete, preventing slipping and ensuring effective anchoring.

Implementation Method 1

pressing them in with a pressure device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

with simultaneous shaking

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 3

larger stones that are buried in the concrete as aggregates sink down when vibrated, while the fine parts remain in the upper area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Data Source

PatentEP2138289B1Method for producing a longitudinally slottet grid element
Publication Date: 2011.04.27 SCHWARZ RUDOLF
  • EP2138289B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2138289B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2138289B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The method involves loading a rubber coating (46) with pressure by a pressurizing device e.g. cylinder (60), during vibration of a casting mold (36) using a vibrator (32), till an upper side of the coating is found to the height of a surface of the mold. A concrete (44) is brought to the height of an upper side of the coating, at sections of transverse and longitudinal beams that are not covered by the coating. The mold is rotated so that the upper side of the coating is represented in a downward manner. A grid floor element is removed from the mold in a downward manner. An independent claim is also included for a system for producing a grid floor element.