Segmented Drainage Gutter with Thickened Edge Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drainage channels with large cross-sectional dimensions, especially concrete or polymer concrete channels, have high intrinsic weight and space requirements, making them difficult to transport and install, and are not optimized for high pressure loads from vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A two-part drainage channel design featuring a channel body made from a thin material, such as sheet metal, embedded in a foundation, and a channel cover receptacle with thicker metal frames and cross braces for stability, allowing for easy disassembly and transportation while maintaining structural integrity under vehicle pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If drainage channels are made from concrete or polymer concrete with large cross-sectional dimensions, then they can withstand high pressure loads from vehicles, but their intrinsic weight and space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage channel is divided into two separate components: a channel body (2) and a channel cover receptacle (3). The channel body can be made from thinner, lighter material since it is embedded in a foundation, while the channel cover receptacle uses thicker material to withstand vehicle pressure loads. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the drainage channel system use different material thicknesses and properties. The channel body uses thinner material where full strength is not required, while the channel cover receptacle uses thicker material (d2 > d1) specifically where it needs to bear vehicle loads. This local differentiation of material quality optimizes the overall structure by applying stronger materials only where necessary.
2Strength
If drainage channels are made from concrete or polymer concrete with large cross-sectional dimensions, then they can withstand high pressure loads from vehicles, but their space requirements and transportation efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the drainage channel into modular components (channel body and channel cover receptacle), the system achieves the required strength without needing a single large-volume concrete structure. The components can be compactly packaged for transportation, improving space efficiency while maintaining the ability to withstand vehicle loads when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material thickness parameter differently for different components. The channel cover receptacle uses greater material thickness (d2) than the channel body (d1), allowing the system to achieve required strength with optimized material distribution rather than uniformly thick walls throughout, thereby reducing overall volume and transportation space requirements.
3Strength
If drainage channels are made from thick material to withstand pressure loads, then structural integrity is maintained, but ease of transportation and installation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage channel system is segmented into transportable components that can be moved separately to the installation site. The channel body and channel cover receptacle can be transported independently, making handling easier than moving a single large concrete structure, while still providing the required structural integrity when assembled and installed in the foundation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A drainage channel (1) has at least one channel body (2) with a base (21), two side walls (22) extending from the base (21) and a channel cover receptacle (3) as well as stabilizing elements (7, 8) for transferring loads acting on the drainage channel (1), wherein the channel cover receptacle (3) can be attached as at least one separate component to end edges of the channel body (2) located away from the base (21), wherein a material thickness (d2) of the channel cover receptacle (3) is greater than a material thickness (d1) of the channel body (2), wherein the channel cover receptacle (3) has two frames (31) arranged parallel to each other with pockets (34) molded onto them in which the stabilizing elements (7, 8) are arranged.