Telescoping Support Assembly for Precise Manhole Equipment Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for placing monitoring and maintenance equipment inside manholes suffer from imprecise positioning and unreliable assembly, leading to potential loss of equipment during installation and operation.
Innovation Solution
The use of novel supporting assemblies comprising a main tube with an area-narrowing feature and a telescoping rod with an area-expanding feature, secured by brackets on opposing sidewalls, allows for precise positioning and secure attachment of equipment without risk of decoupling, utilizing a telescoping rod that slides through the main tube and expands or retracts without losing contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current placement apparatus is used, then equipment can be installed in manholes, but positioning precision is poor and equipment may be lost during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping rod is nested within the main tube, with the rod capable of extending and retracting while remaining contained. The area-narrowing feature at the tube end and area-expanding feature on the rod create a nested configuration that ensures the rod cannot completely脱离 the tube, preventing equipment loss while allowing precise positioning adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the dimensional parameters of the tube and rod through the area-narrowing and area-expanding features. These features create specific frictional contact conditions that allow the rod to be inserted and positioned precisely while maintaining secure connection, transforming the connection state from loose to controlled friction-based attachment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If telescoping rod is used for adjustment, then positioning flexibility is improved, but risk of decoupling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The area-narrowing and area-expanding features create preliminary frictional contact that opposes the tendency of the telescoping rod to decouple from the main tube. This frictional resistance acts in advance to prevent loss of connection while still allowing controlled extension and retraction movements for positioning adjustments.
3Ease of operation
If simple insertion method is used, then installation is easy, but positioning precision is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The area-narrowing and area-expanding features create specific frictional contact conditions that transform simple insertion into controlled positioning. The friction-based connection allows the rod to be easily inserted while maintaining precise positional control through the frictional engagement between the features.
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 ensures precise and reliable positioning of equipment inside manholes, preventing equipment loss during installation and operation, while allowing for easy handling and secure attachment, thereby enhancing data accuracy and maintenance accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
the outer-telescoping surface slidably passes through and establishes a first frictional contact with the first inner surface of the area-narrowing feature
Implementation Method 2
the second outer surface is free to slidably engage and establish a second frictional contact with the interior-main surface
Data Source
AI summary
Supporting assemblies for supporting a suspended load and processes relating thereto are described. An exemplar supporting assembly includes: (i) an area-narrowing feature including a first inner surface defining a first aperture; (ii) a main tube including an interior-main surface defining a cavity having disposed therewithin the area-narrowing feature; (iii) an area-expanding feature including a second outer surface; and (iv) a telescoping rod including an outer-telescoping surface having disposed thereon the area-expanding feature. In an assembled state of the supporting assembly, the outer-telescoping surface slidably passes through and establishes a first frictional contact with the first inner surface, and the second outer surface slidably engages and establishes a second frictional contact with the interior-main surface. In this configuration, the area-narrowing feature and the area-expanding feature facilitate slidable engagement of the telescoping rod to expand out of or retract inside, without decoupling from, the main tube.