Termiticide Flex Plug System Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional termiticide treatment methods face challenges such as ineffective moisture separation from cement patches, difficulty in setting plugs to the correct depth, and high labor costs due to the use of pencils for depth measurement, as well as the limitations of non-removable and expensive rubberized plugs.
Innovation Solution
A termiticide flex plug system that includes a reusable plug made of closed cell foam, a tool with a locating element for precise depth adjustment, and interchangeable plug tips to fit various hole diameters, allowing for easy insertion and removal of plugs to prevent moisture transfer and facilitate efficient termiticide injection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If paper products are used to separate moisture from cement patch, then moisture absorption is prevented, but the paper wicks moisture up to the concrete or pulls moisture out of the concrete, negatively affecting concrete setting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a disposable foam plug that is inserted into the hole, allows moisture to pass through during concrete pouring, and is then removed. This disposable approach eliminates the need for permanent moisture-blocking materials that would interfere with concrete setting, while still providing necessary protection during the critical pouring period.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of moisture blockage from permanent to temporary. The foam plug is designed to be inserted and removed at specific stages of the concrete setting process, allowing moisture management to be adjusted dynamically rather than fixed, thereby enabling proper concrete setting while preventing moisture damage during critical periods.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If hardened plastic plugs are used to prevent moisture absorption, then moisture blockage is achieved, but the plugs are extremely difficult to set in the hole and are rather expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the plug from hardened plastic to soft foam. This parameter change makes the plug highly adaptable to hole shapes and sizes, allowing it to be easily pushed into holes of various diameters without requiring special tools or excessive force, while still providing effective moisture blockage when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam plug provides localized moisture blockage exactly where needed in the hole, conforming to the specific geometry of each hole. This local adaptation allows the same simple foam material to effectively seal holes of varying sizes and shapes, eliminating the need for complex hardened plastic plugs designed for specific dimensions.
3Measurement precision
If pencils are used to set plugs to proper depth, then depth measurement is possible, but it is very difficult to use a pencil with holes of different diameters and measure the appropriate depth, resulting in large man-hour costs
Solution Approach 1:
The foam plug is designed to be self-measuring. When pushed into the hole to the correct depth, the plug naturally indicates the proper insertion depth through its physical dimensions and positioning. This eliminates the need for separate measurement tools like pencils, allowing workers to quickly set plugs in holes of different sizes without time-consuming measurement procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam plug serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a moisture barrier, a depth indicator, and a filling material for the hole. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate measurement and sealing tools, allowing a single tool (the foam plug itself) to handle all requirements, thereby dramatically increasing productivity across different hole sizes.
4Reliability
If non-removable plugs are used, then the holes are sealed permanently, but the plugs cannot be removed to allow hole drilling and plugging for termiticide injection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic functionality to the plug system. The foam plug can be inserted to seal the hole permanently after termiticide injection, but can also be removed before injection to allow access. This dynamic characteristic allows the same plug to serve different purposes at different stages of the treatment process, providing both permanent sealing and temporary accessibility as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam plug is designed to be discarded after serving its initial purpose of allowing hole access and sealing. After the termiticide injection is complete and the hole needs to be permanently sealed, the foam plug is removed and replaced with a permanent sealing method. This discard-and-recover approach allows the system to transition from temporary accessibility to permanent sealing efficiently.
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 significantly reduces man-hour costs, ensures a predictable quality of treatment, and allows for quick and effective sealing of holes with adjustable depth settings, preventing moisture passage and enabling easy removal of plugs without drilling.
Implementation Method 1
a plug configured to seal the hole to prevent the passage of liquid below the concrete slab
Implementation Method 2
These are less effective because the paper absorbs the moisture and wicks it up to the concrete or pulls the moisture out of the concrete
Data Source
AI summary
The present application includes a system configured to simplify the application of plugs into holes created in concrete slabs during a termiticide treatment process. The system includes a flexible plug for insertion into the hole one or more times. A plug tip is coupled to a tool and selectively adjusted to a particular depth. A locating element is included to prevent the over protruding of the plug tip in the hole. The tool is used by the user to insert the plug tip into the hole wherein the depth is governed by the location of the locating element. The plug tips may be interchanged or adjusted in depth along with the locating element. Once the plug has been located properly, a patch is then applied to the remaining hole.