Stability Members for Elevated Deck Tile Movement Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support structures for elevated surfaces fail to adequately restrict relative lateral and/or vertical movement between adjacent surface tiles, particularly in seismically active areas or under high wind conditions, leading to increased stress on tiles and support structures.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly system comprising support pedestals with stability members having stabilizing arms that engage with corner portions of surface tiles, restricting movement through mechanical fasteners and tile engaging elements, ensuring improved structural stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If support pedestals are used to elevate surface tiles, then drainage and structural levelness are improved, but relative lateral and vertical movement between adjacent tiles occurs under disruptive vibrations or high winds
Solution Approach 1:
Stability members are introduced as intermediary elements between the support pedestals and surface tiles. These stability members include stabilizing arms with tile engaging elements that actively restrict lateral and vertical movement of adjacent tiles, mediating the connection between the elevated tiles and the support structure to prevent tile-to-tile movement during disruptive events.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: support pedestals for elevation, stability members for movement restriction, and tile engaging elements for specific tile attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function, with stability members specifically addressing the tile movement problem without compromising the drainage and levelness functions of the pedestals.
2Stability of the object's composition
If stability members with stabilizing arms are added to restrict tile movement, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stability member integrates multiple functions into a single component: the stabilizing arms provide structural support, the tile engaging elements attach to tiles for movement restriction, and the entire assembly connects to the support pedestal system. This merging reduces the need for separate components for each function, simplifying the overall device while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The stability members are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as structural support elements and as movement restriction devices. The stabilizing arms provide structural integrity while the integrated tile engaging elements simultaneously prevent lateral and vertical tile movement, making the component universally applicable to various tile configurations and disruption scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for restraining relative lateral and/or vertical movement between adjacent support tiles of an elevated building surface assembly. The system is usable with a support structure including a plurality of support pedestals that are disposed in spaced-apart relation on a fixed surface and that are disposed beneath corner portions of surface tiles to vertically support and elevate the tiles above the fixed surface. The system includes stability members that may be inserted into predetermined gaps between adjacent surface tiles so as to be fit between adjacent surface tiles to restrict lateral and/or vertical movement of the tiles. Fasteners may be placed through apertures in inner portions of the stability members into the top surface of the support pedestals to further secure the stability members to the support pedestals.