Slotted Conduit Support Block for Roof Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting systems for elongated tubular materials like pipes and conduits on roofs are cumbersome, damage-prone, and lack flexibility, requiring heavy and bulky components that can damage roofing materials and necessitate frequent repairs, while also being limited in accommodating multiple conduits and varying slopes.
Innovation Solution
A system of support blocks with a hollow body and tapered configuration, featuring channels and apertures for adaptable vertical risers and connection devices, made from high-density UV-resistant materials that allow for easy assembly and support of conduits without additional struts, enabling flexible and stable mounting with minimal tool use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If heavy mounting blocks are used to support conduits on roofs, then the stability and support strength are improved, but the ease of installation and portability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate modular components: support blocks, conduit clamps, and leveling shims. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - support blocks can be lightweight yet stable, while clamps provide the necessary holding force, and shims adjust for leveling without adding excessive weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The support blocks are made from composite materials that combine lightweight properties with high strength and UV resistance. This allows the blocks to maintain sufficient support strength for roof-mounted conduits while significantly reducing their weight compared to traditional solid concrete or metal blocks, making them easier to transport and install.
2Strength
If wooden planks and metal clamps are used to mount conduits, then the support capability is improved, but the damage to roofing materials and susceptibility to environmental degradation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The support blocks are designed with differentiated local properties: the bottom surface features a broad, flat base with UV-resistant coating to protect against solar degradation and distribute weight evenly on the roof surface; the top surface includes recesses and engagement features specifically shaped to securely hold conduit clamps without concentrating stress points that could damage roofing materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces expensive, maintenance-intensive wooden planks and unprotected metal clamps with durable, weather-resistant support blocks designed for long-term outdoor exposure. These blocks resist rot, rust, and UV degradation, eliminating the need for frequent replacement and repair that characterizes traditional wooden and unprotected metal mounting systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed-configur ation mounting devices are used, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the adaptability to different conduit configurations and slopes worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system incorporates adjustable elements including leveling shims that can be added or removed to achieve proper slopes for different conduit configurations. The support blocks feature recesses and engagement surfaces that can accommodate conduits at various angles and positions, allowing the same basic block design to adapt to different installation requirements without requiring custom-manufactured components.
Solution Approach 2:
The support blocks are designed as universal mounting devices that can support various types of conduits (sewage, vent, drain lines) in different configurations and orientations. The standardized block design with appropriate recesses and engagement features can be used across multiple installation scenarios, eliminating the need for different specialized mounting devices for each conduit type or slope requirement.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate mounting components are used, then the adaptability to different conduit types is improved, but the device complexity and number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple functions into integrated components: support blocks combine structural support, positioning, and leveling functions in a single element; conduit clamps integrate the gripping and securing functions; and shims provide both spacing and slope adjustment capabilities. This consolidation reduces the total number of separate parts compared to traditional systems while maintaining the ability to accommodate different conduit types through the standardized interface design.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and device for installing and mounting conduit upon a surface such as a roof The system made up of at least one support block having a body with a base and an upper portion, the upper portion having a channel defined by two upright portions each of these upright portions having an upper surface, the upper surface defining an aperture, the aperture extends from the upper surface of the upright portion down into the hollow cavity which is defined by the body. These apertures are dimensioned so as to allow a portion of an adaptable conduit connecting device to fit and be held in a desired position within said aperture.