Screeding Apparatus Lateral Leveling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing leveling and pulling devices leave long recesses or impressions in materials like gravel or concrete after removal, as they are limited to removing material only between guide rails and cannot efficiently handle areas outside these rails.

Innovation Solution

A pulling device with guide rails and a puller rail that is longer than the spacers, allowing lateral removal and featuring movable and pivotable rollers for optimal material distribution, along with adjustable supports and profiles for versatile use on various surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional leveling boards or simple guide rails are used, then the device structure remains simple, but long recesses remain in the material after removal and areas outside the guide rails cannot be leveled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleveling coverage areaVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into modular components: guide rails supported on uprights, a separate pull-off rail with suspenders, and a leveling screed. This segmentation allows the pull-off rail to extend beyond the guide rails and be independently positioned, enabling leveling of areas outside the guide rail span while keeping each component relatively simple in structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pull-off rail is suspended below the guide rails at a distance, creating a three-dimensional configuration. This vertical separation allows the pull-off rail to access and level material in areas laterally outside the guide rails, expanding the effective working area without requiring the guide rails themselves to be extended.

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

2Manufacturing precision

If guide rails are used for leveling, then leveling can be performed between the rails, but long recesses are created in the material when the rails are removed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface leveling qualityVSAvoidrecesses in material
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pull-off rail acts as an intermediary element that transfers the leveling action from the guide rails to the material. By suspending the pull-off rail below the guide rails and having it engage the material directly, the guide rails serve only as support structures that can be easily removed without creating recesses, while the pull-off rail performs the actual leveling function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the guide rails directly contact and level the material (which creates recesses when removed), the invention inverts the approach: the guide rails provide support from above, while the pull-off rail suspended below them performs the leveling contact. This inversion allows the support structure to be removed without leaving impressions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the pull-off rail is suspended below the guide rails, then areas outside the guide rails can be leveled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral coverage areaVSAvoidsuspension mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The leveling function is extracted from the guide rails and transferred to the pull-off rail. The guide rails are reduced to simple support structures mounted on uprights, while the pull-off rail with its suspenders becomes the dedicated leveling component. This extraction allows the pull-off rail to be independently positioned and extended beyond the guide rails without complicating the guide rail structure itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The suspenders connecting the pull-off rail to the guide rails serve multiple functions: they support the pull-off rail at the required distance, allow lateral adjustment beyond the guide rail span, and enable easy assembly and disassembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional complex mechanisms while achieving extended lateral coverage.

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

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

Enables efficient removal and smoothing of materials beyond the guide rails, minimizing recesses and impressions, and allowing use on horizontal, inclined, and vertical surfaces, with easy disassembly for storage and transport.

Implementation Method 1

The suspension (5) has a first pair of rollers (11) which run inside the profile of the guide rail (1) and allow movement of the pull-off rail (4) along the guide rails (1)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Implementation Method 2

A second pair of rollers (14) connected to the first pair of rollers (11) and arranged below it... allows the pull-off rail (4) to move back and forth along its longitudinal axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Implementation Method 3

The support roller (12, 15) is advantageously pre-tensioned by a spring (not shown)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3922784B1Screeding apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 KRAUSE JON
  • EP3922784B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3922784B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3922784B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The device comprises two guide rails (1) that are supported on two supports (2) on a substrate and are held apart by two spacers (3). A pull-off rail (4), movable along the guide rails (1), is longer than the spacers and is connected to them by two suspensions (5) on the side of the guide rails (1) facing the substrate, and is displaceable in its longitudinal direction (9) as well as in the longitudinal direction (8) of the guide rails (1).