Structural Modules Apertures Drainage Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing walkway and traffic surface solutions lack the ability to provide a smooth, drainage-enabled surface suitable for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic without the need for intervening rigid layers, while ensuring safety from objects passing through apertures and maintaining structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
Structural modules with a flat top and bottom wall and side walls, featuring apertures that allow liquid flow, where the top wall apertures are sized to prevent objects larger than 10 mm in diameter from passing through, ensuring a flat and safe surface when covered with a flexible layer, and larger apertures in the side and bottom walls for efficient drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If larger apertures are provided in the top wall for drainage, then drainage efficiency is improved, but the surface becomes uneven and unsafe for pedestrians
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different aperture size specifications to different locations on the module: the top wall has restricted apertures (maximum 10mm sphere passage) for safety, while the bottom and side walls have larger apertures for drainage. This local differentiation of aperture sizes resolves the contradiction by providing both safety at the pedestrian interface and drainage efficiency at the discharge points.
2Shape
If a rigid layer is introduced between the flexible surface and modules, then surface flatness is improved, but the complexity of installation and structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate rigid layer (such as wooden sheets or planks) from the traditional construction sequence. Instead, the flexible surface layer is laid directly on the modules with the apertures providing sufficient support. This extraction of the intermediate layer simplifies the structure and installation while the aperture design maintains surface flatness.
3Productivity
If traditional particulate materials are used for sub-surface layer, then drainage capability is improved, but the weight and transportation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses structural modules with integrated porous walls containing apertures to provide drainage capability. These modular structures replace traditional particulate drainage layers, providing equivalent or superior drainage performance while significantly reducing material weight and transportation requirements due to the hollow modular construction.
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 solution provides a durable, drainage-enabled surface that is safe for walking and vehicular traffic, prevents objects from passing through, and reduces weight and transportation costs, while allowing for easy installation and reuse.
Implementation Method 1
the top wall being provided with a plurality of apertures to permit the flow of liquid into the volume, wherein the size and shape of each aperture in the top wall is such that the maximum diameter of sphere that the aperture would let through is in a range up to about 10 mm
Implementation Method 2
the side walls and / or the bottom wall being provided with apertures to permit the flow of liquid out of the volume, wherein at least one of the apertures in the bottom wall and the side walls are such that they would let through a sphere with a diameter of substantially greater than 10 mm
Data Source
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AI summary
A structural module which is suitable for combining with like structural modules to form an area suitable for walking on and/or for travelling directly over by a vehicle, comprises a flat top wall and a bottom wall spaced therefrom by side walls so as to define a volume between the top and bottom walls. The top wall is provided with a plurality of apertures to permit the flow of liquid into the volume, and the side walls and / or the bottom wall are provided with apertures to permit the flow of liquid out of the volume. The size and shape of each aperture in the top wall is such that the maximum diameter of sphere that the aperture would let through is in a range up to 10 mm.