Trench Drain Unit With Tapered Columns For Compact Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing trench units for rainwater infiltration systems are inefficient in utilizing truck load capacity during transportation due to their bulky design, leading to increased transportation costs and logistical challenges.
Innovation Solution
A trench unit design featuring tapered columns that can be stacked compactly, with a higher peripheral base wall and strategically placed stiffening ribs, allowing for efficient use of truck capacity and space, while maintaining structural stability and facilitating easy assembly and inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If trench units are transported in fully assembled state, then structural integrity is maintained, but truck load capacity is underutilized
Solution Approach 1:
The trench unit is divided into two identical trench sub-units that can be separated for transport. Each sub-unit contains a base wall, columns, and a top wall forming a complete functional unit. This segmentation allows the sub-units to be nested within each other during transportation, significantly improving truck load capacity utilization while maintaining structural integrity when assembled at the destination
Solution Approach 2:
The trench sub-units are designed to be nested one inside the other during transport. The tapered columns and corresponding recesses allow the second sub-unit to fit within the first sub-unit, creating a compact configuration that maximizes the use of truck loading volume and capacity
2Productivity
If columns are tapered for compact stacking, then transport efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The columns are designed with a tapered geometry where the diameter decreases from the base toward the top. This parameter change enables compact nesting during transport while the manufacturing process uses standard injection molding techniques with tapered molds, making the production process straightforward and suitable for mass production
3Ease of manufacture
If base wall thickness is reduced for material savings, then manufacturing cost decreases, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The base wall features a raised peripheral edge that provides localized structural reinforcement at the perimeter where strength is most needed for stacking and handling. The central area of the base wall has reduced thickness to minimize material usage. This local quality differentiation maintains structural stability while reducing overall material consumption and manufacturing costs
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a drain unit (10), comprising at least one drain sub-unit (12), wherein the at least one drain sub-unit (12) has a base wall (16) and a plurality of hollow columns (18), wherein the columns (18) are integrally connected to the base wall (16) and taper, preferably conically, in the direction away from the base wall (16), i.e. from the base end (18a) towards the tip (18b). The invention further relates to a transport unit for transporting a plurality of such drain units (10).