Triangular Modular Shuttering Block for Swimming Pool Corner Stairs
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction of corner stairs for swimming pools is hindered by the need for costly and time-consuming cutting and adjustment of conventional shuttering blocks, which can lead to inaccuracies and sealing issues, especially in corner configurations, and existing solutions are either expensive or labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A modular shuttering block with a right prism shape and integrated ribs and assembly means, allowing for interlocking and precise alignment without cutting, made from plastic material, enabling efficient assembly and alignment of blocks to form corner stairs without the need for precise cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional rectangular or cubic formwork blocks are used for corner stairs, then they can be obtained through standard manufacturing, but they require costly and time-consuming cutting and adjustment work to achieve precise corner dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The formwork block is divided into multiple modular segments that can be assembled to form corner stairs of various configurations. Each segment is pre-formed with standardized dimensions and connection features, eliminating the need for on-site cutting and adjustment while allowing flexible assembly to match different corner step requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The corner step geometry is pre-formed in the mold during manufacturing, rather than requiring subsequent cutting and shaping operations. The mold itself is designed with the exact corner step geometry, so the formwork block emerges ready-to-use with precise dimensions and shapes already integrated
2Adaptability or versatility
If cutting and adjustment work is performed on formwork blocks, then adaptation to specific project dimensions is possible, but inaccuracies can cause defects during liner installation and sealing problems
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of physically modifying the formwork block through cutting, the solution changes the dimensional parameters by selecting from multiple pre-fabricated segments with standardized dimensions. This allows adaptation to different project requirements while maintaining manufacturing precision, as each segment is produced with controlled tolerances in the factory setting
3Stability of the object's composition
If monolithic staircases are constructed using large molds, then a single-piece structure is achieved, but they are very expensive and bulky in terms of storage and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The monolithic staircase is segmented into multiple formwork blocks that can be manufactured separately using smaller, simpler molds. These blocks are then assembled on-site to create the complete staircase structure, reducing mold size and complexity while maintaining the integrity of the final concrete structure through proper connection design
Solution Approach 2:
The formwork blocks are designed with nested or interlocking geometries that allow them to fit together precisely, with smaller blocks nesting within or alongside larger ones. This modular nesting approach simplifies individual block designs and molds while enabling the construction of complex staircase configurations
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional wooden formwork is used, then construction is possible, but the formwork must be removed after concrete setting, adding to the construction process time and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The formwork blocks are designed as disposable elements that remain embedded in the finished concrete structure, eliminating the need for removal and recovery operations. The blocks serve their formwork function during concrete setting and then become part of the permanent structure, simplifying the construction process and eliminating formwork removal time
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a modular shuttering block (1) defining a through-housing that connects a first face (A) of the modular block (1) and a second face (B), opposite the first face, for the reception of a filling material; the modular block (1) being provided with means (2) for assembling with at least one other block. According to the invention, the modular block (1) is in the form of a right prism with isosceles triangular bases formed by the first and second faces (A, B). The invention also relates to an assembly formed by a plurality of such modular blocks and finds application notably for the production of swimming pool steps.