Scaffold Cross-Bar U-Reinforcement Profile Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scaffolding walers lack sufficient bending strength and load-bearing capacity, especially with larger spans, and pose obstacles due to increased height, weight, and complexity in handling and storage, while also complicating the attachment of accessories and requiring excessive stacking space.

Innovation Solution

A scaffolding waler design featuring a round tube carrier profile with a U-reinforcement profile, where the U-profile extends downwards and features strategically positioned openings for secure fastening and reduced weight, allowing for improved bending strength, space-saving storage, and easy handling, with a design that includes connection heads or hooks for secure attachment to scaffolding components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a U-reinforcement profile with large transverse distance between legs is used, then bending strength and load-bearing capacity are improved, but overall height and stacking space increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending strengthVSAvoidstacking space
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The U-reinforcement profile is positioned and dimensioned to nest between the carrier profiles of stacked scaffolding walers. The transverse distance between the legs is specifically designed to be less than 0.6 times the outer diameter of the round tube, enabling the legs to fit within the space occupied by adjacent stacked walers, thus achieving space-efficient storage without compromising structural strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the transverse distance parameter of the U-profile legs relative to the carrier profile diameter. By setting this parameter to less than 0.6 times the outer diameter, the design achieves a balance between providing sufficient bending strength (which requires larger spacing) and minimizing stacking space (which requires smaller spacing)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If connection heads and reinforcement profiles are added to the round tube, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but device complexity and handling difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scaffolding waler is divided into functionally distinct segments: a simple round tube carrier profile for basic structural support and attachment, and a separate U-reinforcement profile for enhanced bending strength. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies manufacturing and assembly compared to integrated complex designs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The round tube carrier profile serves multiple functions: it provides the basic structural framework, enables attachment of connection heads at its ends, and accommodates the U-reinforcement profile along its length. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby simplifying the overall device complexity

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

3Strength

If the transverse distance between U-profile legs is increased, then bending strength is improved, but attachment space for accessories is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending strengthVSAvoidattachment versatility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the longitudinal dimension of the round tube carrier profile to provide attachment options. Connection heads are positioned at the ends of the carrier profile in the longitudinal direction, while the U-reinforcement profile with its openings provides attachment points along the length of the carrier. This multi-dimensional arrangement of attachment points ensures both bending strength and attachment versatility are maintained

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3274520B1Scaffold cross-bar and stack arrangement of at least two scaffold cross-bars
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 WILHELM LAYHER VERWALTUNGS GMBH
  • EP3274520B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3274520B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3274520B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a scaffold cross-bar (20) of metal with a round-tube carrier profile (21) of steel, consisting of a round tube and having an outside diameter (28), and a U-shaped reinforcing profile (22) of steel sheet. The U-shaped reinforcing profile (22) has a base profile (49) and two parallel profile legs (50.1, 50.2) which extend away from the base profile (49) in the same direction at a transverse spacing (52) from one another. Each profile leg (50.1, 50.2) has at least one opening (60.1, 60.2) for fastening and/or securing scaffold components on the scaffold cross-bar (20). The transverse spacing (52) of the profile legs (50.1, 50.2) is smaller than 0.6 times the outside diameter (28) of the round-tube carrier profile (21).