Warehouse improved beam

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing warehouse structures face challenges with supporting heavy loads due to weak metal beams and low-strength dowels, which can deform under weight and break easily. Additionally, the manual interlocking of inserts poses safety risks and increases construction time and costs.

Innovation Solution

The warehouse design incorporates strengthened beams with a profile made from a folded metal sheet, featuring a unique constraint mechanism between the plate and profile, and the use of a handling device for safe and efficient assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If metal sheet beams are used to construct warehouse modules, then the structure can be easily assembled and disassembled, but the beams lack sufficient strength to support heavy loads and may deform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidload capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a metal sheet profile with wooden blocks and metal plates to create a composite beam structure. The wooden blocks are inserted into the metal profile and secured with metal plates, creating a hybrid structure that leverages the ease of metal fabrication with the high load-bearing capacity of wood, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and load capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges multiple materials (metal sheet, wood, metal plates) and structural elements (profile, blocks, fastening plates) into a unified beam assembly. This combination allows the structure to maintain the modular assembly advantages of metal construction while gaining the structural strength of wood and reinforced connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If dowels are used to connect beams to uprights, then the assembly process is simplified, but the dowels constitute points of low strength and are easy to break

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidconnection strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reinforces the connection points between beams and uprights by inserting wooden blocks into the metal profile at these critical locations and securing them with metal plates. This local reinforcement strengthens the connection points without complicating the overall assembly process, as the blocks and plates are installed using similar fastening procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual interlocking of inserts is performed during assembly, then flexibility in assembly is maintained, but operator safety is at risk and construction time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidconstruction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The beam structure is designed with self-aligning features where the wooden blocks and metal plates naturally guide themselves into the correct positions during assembly. The profile geometry and component design facilitate automatic alignment, reducing the need for precise manual positioning while maintaining assembly flexibility and reducing construction time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4549342A1Warehouse improved beam
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 ROSSS
  • EP4549342A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4549342A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP4549342A1 patent drawingFigure 4a~9

AI summary

A warehouse (1) is provided, comprising uprights (3) and beams (4), wherein each beam (4) comprises a profile (41) defining a longitudinal axis (4a) and two ends (41a), and plates (42) constrained to said profile (41). The profile (41) has deformed end portions against which the distal wall (41c) is pressed and brought into contact with the proximal wall (41b), and a hole (41d) at the deformed end portions. Each of said plates (42) comprises a plate portion (42a). Said upright (3) further comprises a constraint (43) configured to juxtapose and mutually clamp together the walls (41b, 41c) and the plate portion (42a), thereby binding the profile (41) to the plate (42).