Adjustable Barrier Assembly With Slidably Coupled Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current barrier assemblies for construction sites face difficulties in accommodating varying lengths, installing adjacent slab edges, accommodating columns and protrusions, and providing suitable connections for safety lines and harnesses, hindering work efficiency and safety.
Innovation Solution
A barrier assembly featuring slidably coupled members with adjustable length, a frame that extends laterally to engage the surface, and a clamp system for secure attachment, along with a support structure and rotatable components for flexibility and safety features like harness anchor points and accessory attachments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed-length barrier members are used, then manufacturing and installation are simplified, but adaptability to different site conditions and barrier lengths is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is divided into multiple individual barrier members (first barrier member, second barrier member, etc.) that can be connected end-to-end. Each member has a defined length, and by selecting and connecting different numbers of members, barriers of various total lengths can be created to suit different site conditions without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms within each member.
2Reliability
If the barrier is positioned close to the slab edge for safety, then worker protection is improved, but installation difficulty and interference with construction work increase
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier system is elevated from the slab surface by using upright members that extend vertically from the slab edge, with the barrier members positioned at height rather than directly on the surface. This vertical displacement allows the barrier to maintain its protective function close to the edge while eliminating interference with ground-level construction activities and simplifying installation on the slab edge.
3Productivity
If the barrier structure is simplified for easy installation, then installation speed is improved, but ability to accommodate columns and protrusions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier system uses discrete, modular barrier members and uprights that can be independently positioned and connected. This segmentation allows the structure to be easily assembled at high speed while providing flexibility to navigate around columns and protrusions by adjusting the placement and configuration of individual modules without requiring a complex integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier system employs connectable barrier members that can be dynamically adjusted in number and arrangement during installation. This dynamic configurability enables rapid adaptation to different site conditions including the presence of columns and protrusions, while maintaining a relatively simple basic structure that supports fast installation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If openings are incorporated for gate access, then functionality is improved, but structural integrity and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier system uses separate, connectable barrier members that can be joined at endpoints to form continuous barriers or configured with gaps to create gate openings. By maintaining the connection mechanism at the joints between discrete members rather than compromising the structure of individual members, the system achieves both access functionality and structural integrity through modular assembly rather than integrated openings.
Data Source
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AI summary
A barrier assembly (10) having an upright frame (15) that supports a barrier (20) consisting of a pair of slidably coupled barrier members (22, 23) that are adjustable in length (21) and supported by stirrup (19) as well as the frame (15).