Single Sheet Inflatable Floating Device Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process of existing floating rafts is complex and wasteful due to the need for multiple sheets to form inflatable cavities, which increases production costs and time.
Innovation Solution
A floating device with inflatable members formed by a single sheet, where the upper and lower walls are bent and connected to create a sealed cavity, simplifying the structure and manufacturing process, and allowing for efficient alignment during production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If multiple sheets are used to form inflatable cavities, then the structural strength and buoyancy are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and material waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the upper and lower walls of the inflatable cavity into a single integrated sheet structure. The sheet is folded to form both walls, which are then connected at the edges to create the sealed cavity. This eliminates the need for separate sheets for upper and lower walls, reducing manufacturing steps and material waste while maintaining the required structural strength for buoyancy.
2Reliability
If multiple sheets are used to form inflatable cavities, then the sealed cavity integrity is improved, but the production time and material consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple walls into a single sheet structure that is folded and sealed at the edges. This single-sheet approach reduces the number of sealing operations required compared to joining multiple separate sheets, thereby maintaining sealed cavity integrity while significantly reducing production time and material consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The single sheet is segmented into different wall portions through folding, creating the three-dimensional inflatable cavity structure. The sheet includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion that are folded to form the upper and lower walls, respectively. This segmentation allows the single sheet to achieve the same functional integrity as multiple separate sheets would provide.
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 reduces manufacturing complexity and waste, improving production efficiency and cost-effectiveness while maintaining buoyancy for floating on water.
Implementation Method 1
Buoyancy exerted on the two inflatable cavities is sufficient to cause the floating raft to float on the water
Data Source
AI summary
A floating device is provided. The floating device includes: a floating member comprising a first end and a second end arranged opposite to the first end; and a pair of inflatable members attached to the first end and the second end of the floating member respectively and configured to be inflatable, each of the pair of inflatable members is formed by a single sheet, each of the pair of inflatable members includes an upper wall and a lower wall formed by bending the single sheet, the upper and the lower walls overlap with each other, a sealed cavity is formed by connecting a first free edge of the upper wall to a second free edge of the lower wall, the first end and the second end are sandwiched between the upper wall and the lower wall of a corresponding one of the pair of inflatable members.