Spherical Coupling Raised Floor Support for Inclined Planes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support systems for raised floors are unstable on inclined planes, particularly when long, and suffer from unbalanced weight distribution issues due to swinging caps, leading to instability and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
A support system featuring a base with a concave spherical seat and a lower element with a spherical bottom wall for stable spherical coupling, combined with a fixed head upper element and locking teeth for stability and easy assembly, eliminating the need for balancing and reducing interference during maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a swinging cap with spherical coupling is used to support raised floors on inclined planes, then the floor elements can be positioned horizontally, but the support system becomes unstable when the inclination is high or the support system is long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spherical coupling elements (spherical cap and concave spherical seat) that allow the support system to adapt to inclined surfaces while maintaining stability. The spherical geometry enables rotational adjustment and self-centering, preventing the instability that occurs with long support systems on high inclination planes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the axis of the support system is inclined with respect to the vertical axis on high inclination planes, then the base element can be disposed on the inclined plane, but the orthogonal line passing by the center of gravity may come out of the base element, causing collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical coupling mechanism allows the upper elements to remain vertical while the base adapts to the inclined plane. The spherical joint enables the system to accommodate the inclination angle without the center of gravity falling outside the base, preventing collapse while maintaining adaptability to various inclined surfaces.
3Ease of operation
If vertical diaphragms are provided in the swinging cap as stops for floor elements, then the floor elements can be positioned, but the diaphragms are difficult to break and interfere with floor elements during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs breakable diaphragms made of easily fractureable material that serve as temporary positioning stops during installation. These diaphragms are designed to be easily broken and removed during maintenance operations, eliminating the interference problems associated with durable stopping mechanisms.
4Quantity of substance
If multiple portions of floor elements are disposed on the swinging cap, then the floor can be supported, but the swinging cap loses its compensation principle when weight is unbalanced, impairing comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical coupling mechanism provides automatic self-balancing through its geometric properties. When multiple floor elements are placed on the support system, the spherical joint allows rotational adjustment that automatically compensates for weight imbalances, maintaining the horizontal positioning of the floor elements and preserving the compensation principle even with unbalanced loads.
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
The system provides perfect stability and safety by maintaining a vertical axis, even on inclined planes, and simplifies assembly and maintenance by blocking motion and preventing unbalanced weight issues.
Implementation Method 1
The base has a concave seat shaped as a segment of a sphere; the lower element has a bottom wall shaped as a segment of a sphere, in such a way that the lower element can be coupled to the base in spherical coupling mode
Implementation Method 2
The base comprises locking teeth upwardly protruding from the concave housing of the base for engaging into seats situated in said bottom wall of the lower element, so that a motion of the lower element is blocked with respect to the base
Data Source
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AI summary
A support system (101) for raised floors comprises: a base (2) intended to be placed on a surface, a lower element (3) coupled with the base (2), and an upper element (5) coupled with the lower element (3) and intended to support floor elements; the base (2) having a concave housing (122) shaped as a portion of a segment of a sphere; and said lower element (3) having a bottom wall (30) shaped as a portion of a segment of a sphere, in such manner that the lower element is coupled with the base in spherical coupling mode; the base (2) comprising locking teeth (72) upwardly protruding from the concave housing (122) of the base for engaging into seats (82A, 82B) situated in the bottom wall (30) of the lower element, so that a motion of the lower element (3) is blocked with respect to the base (2).