Stackable Foldable Building Spacer System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional construction methods, such as 'stick-built' techniques, are inefficient and costly for building homes and commercial spaces, as they require on-site assembly of raw materials, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A spacer system for stacked enclosure components, comprising a first enclosure component with stepped locating ridges and a spacer plate with a lip, allowing for a mating relationship that facilitates the assembly of a foldable, transportable structure that can be easily assembled on-site, using a multi-layered laminate design and reinforcement for load transfer and sealing systems to prevent water and noise ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional stick-built construction methods are used, then on-site assembly flexibility is maintained, but construction time and labor costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The building structure is divided into modular wall panels, floor assemblies, and roof sections that are pre-assembled in factories. Each module contains integrated components (insulation, wiring, plumbing) that are segmented for independent manufacturing and on-site stacking, enabling rapid deployment while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
Building components are pre-assembled, pre-insulated, and pre-finished in controlled factory environments before transportation. The wall panels include pre-installed window openings, door frames, and insulation layers, eliminating time-consuming on-site tasks and reducing weather-related delays
2Loss of substance
If traditional on-site construction is used, then material adaptability is maintained, but material waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
Building components are pre-cut, pre-assembled, and pre-insulated in factory settings using precise computer-controlled machinery. This preliminary fabrication minimizes material waste through optimized cutting patterns and allows for easy recycling of offcuts, while still accommodating design variations through modular configurations
Solution Approach 2:
Wall panels and structural elements use composite materials combining wood fibers, insulation materials, and protective coatings in integrated layers. These composite structures reduce material waste by eliminating the need for separate installation of insulation, vapor barriers, and cladding, while maintaining thermal and structural performance
3Volume of moving object
If components are transported in unfolded state, then assembly simplicity is maintained, but transportation costs and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Floor assemblies and roof sections are nested within wall panel configurations during transportation, with smaller components stored in cavities of larger structural elements. This nesting arrangement reduces the overall transportation volume by approximately 60% compared to flat-loaded configurations, while maintaining quick on-site deployment through simple unstacking procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The building modules incorporate collapsible framing systems that can be compressed into compact configurations for transportation and automatically expand to full structural dimensions upon on-site assembly. Hydraulic or mechanical expansion mechanisms allow single-person deployment of walls and roofs within minutes of arrival
4Strength
If simple connection systems are used, then assembly speed is improved, but structural strength and sealing effectiveness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into separate functional components: structural steel connection plates for load-bearing joints, rubber gasket seals for weatherproofing, and quick-connect fasteners for modular assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - steel plates provide high strength, gaskets provide sealing, and fasteners enable rapid assembly - while working together as an integrated connection system
Solution Approach 2:
Connection nodes use composite construction combining steel reinforcement plates embedded within wood panel structures, with rubber gasket materials integrated into the panel edges. This composite approach provides both the structural strength of metal and the sealing properties of elastomers, achieving weather-tight connections without complex multi-step assembly procedures
Data Source
AI summary
A spacer system for stacked building structures that is in mating engagement with a seal plate provided on an edge of an enclosure component.