Temporary Walkway Locking Mechanism for Uneven Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction sites face challenges with mud and debris tracking, wheeled vehicles getting stuck, tripping hazards from plywood, and the need for immediate handicap access and temporary walkways that can't wait for concrete setup or landscaping completion.
Innovation Solution
A temporary metallic walkway system comprising rigid planks with a locking mechanism that allows quick assembly and disassembly, featuring a cylindrical portion and lip design for secure engagement and rotation, enabling flexible length adjustment and conformability to uneven surfaces, and corner connections for angled interfaces with permanent pathways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If plywood is used to create a walkway, then immediate walkway availability is achieved, but tripping hazards are created at the overlaps
Solution Approach 1:
The walkway is divided into multiple rigid panel segments that can be individually positioned and locked together. Each panel is a separate unit with standardized coupling mechanisms, allowing rapid assembly without overlapping materials that create tripping hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism between panels includes rotating elements that allow dynamic adjustment during assembly. The rotating panel can be positioned at different angles during installation and then locked into a fixed, safe position, enabling both quick assembly and safe final configuration.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent disengagement, then walkway stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage when panels are coupled together. The rotating panel and cylindrical portion interact to automatically lock the panels in place without requiring additional actuators, sensors, or complex control systems, maintaining simplicity while ensuring stability.
3Strength
If rigid panels are used instead of flexible materials, then walkway strength is improved, but adaptability to uneven terrain worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism between rigid panels includes rotating elements that allow each panel to be independently angled during assembly. This enables the walkway to conform to uneven terrain by adjusting the angle of individual panels while maintaining the overall rigidity and strength of each panel structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A temporary walkway used in construction areas to allow access to a building before the concrete sidewalk is installed. The temporary walkway has plank sections made up of a panel and a leading and a trailing edge. The leading edge is configured to lock into the trailing edge of an adjacent plank to create a large walk way. The Planks remain locked throughout an upward and downward angle of rotation to account for variance in the terrain.