Self-building Tower Bottom-up Assembly Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tower structures require significant space and machinery for assembly, limiting their use in indoor venues and disrupting nearby constructions, as they are typically assembled by adding sections to the top and require cranes for lifting, which is not always feasible.

Innovation Solution

A self-building tower system that allows for vertical assembly by adding sections to the bottom, utilizing a tower feeding system with an integral hoist mechanism to raise and lower sections, minimizing the footprint and eliminating the need for external lifting machinery, and incorporating hinged attachment points for easy connection and pivoting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional tower structures are assembled by adding sections to the top using cranes, then the tower can be constructed to required height, but the footprint occupied during assembly is much larger than the surface area of the completed tower and significant external machinery is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly processVSAvoidfootprint during assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional assembly approach by adding tower sections to the bottom instead of the top. The tower feeding system feeds sections upward through a feeder aperture from below, allowing the tower to be constructed vertically in place without requiring large overhead cranes or significant assembly space around the tower base.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The tower feeding system is integrated directly with the tower structure, with the feeder aperture positioned at the base of the tower. This self-service system allows the tower to feed its own sections upward without requiring external cranes or separate lifting equipment, eliminating the need for significant external machinery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If cranes are used to lift tower sections to the top for assembly, then sections can be incorporated into the tower, but the operation requires sufficient height between floor and ceiling which is not always available in indoor venues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetower assemblyVSAvoidvertical clearance required

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of lifting sections downward from above (requiring overhead clearance), the system feeds sections upward from below through the feeder aperture at the tower base. This inverted approach eliminates the need for significant vertical clearance between floor and ceiling, enabling tower assembly in indoor venues with limited headroom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If towers are assembled horizontally on the ground before being raised to vertical position, then the tower can be constructed without cranes, but significant amounts of space are required and construction of nearby structures is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly methodVSAvoidspace required for assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than assembling the tower horizontally on the ground and then raising it (which requires large assembly space), the system constructs the tower vertically in place by feeding sections upward from the base. This eliminates the need for large horizontal assembly areas and allows construction of nearby structures to proceed simultaneously without disruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The tower is divided into modular sections that can be individually fed upward through the feeder aperture and assembled in sequence. This segmentation allows the tower to be constructed vertically in place without requiring the entire tower to be assembled horizontally at once, minimizing the footprint required during assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If collapsible sections with telescopic extension are used, then the tower can be adjusted in height, but the length is predefined and limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight adjustmentVSAvoidmaximum tower height

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The tower is constructed from multiple modular sections that can be fed upward and assembled in sequence through the feeder aperture. This segmentation allows the tower height to be extended indefinitely by adding more sections, unlike telescopic towers with predefined maximum lengths. The modular design provides flexibility in height adjustment while eliminating the upper height limit inherent in telescopic systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10907376B1Self-building tower

Publication Date: 2021.02.02 BONILLA ANTHONY J

AI summary

A self-building tower comprising a plurality of tower sections adapted to be connected in a sequence to form a modular tower, and a tower feeding system having a feeder sleeve block. The feeder sleeve block is elevated above a horizontal surface by a support column, and has a feeder aperture which allows tower sections to be positioned between the feeder aperture to be fed upwardly through the feeder sleeve block. The feeder sleeve block supports the modular tower in a position perpendicular to the horizontal surface. The tower feeding system has a hoist mechanism for raising each tower section through the feeder aperture, allowing additional tower sections to be attached to the lowermost tower section in the sequence.