Adjustable Safety Cage for Tanker Hatch Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety cages for transport trucks are ineffective in providing fall protection and allowing safe access to the top of dry bulk transport trucks due to their lateral spacing, which either prevents the hatch cover from being fully opened or is too far away to prevent falls.
Innovation Solution
A safety cage and gangway system that includes a gangway capable of being raised and lowered, with a cage having lateral sides and a joining side with a vertically sliding gate, and a partial floor that pivots to allow safe access and full opening of the hatch cover, ensuring both fall protection and unhindered access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the side railing of a safety cage is spaced laterally outward to permit the hatch cover to be fully opened, then the hatch cover can be fully opened, but the side railing is positioned too far laterally to prevent the worker from falling
Solution Approach 1:
The safety cage is divided into multiple sections with different railing configurations. The rear section has railings spaced to allow hatch opening, while the side sections have railings positioned closer to provide fall protection. This segmentation allows each section to serve its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the safety cage have different railing spacing characteristics. The rear portion near the hatch has wider spacing for operational access, while the lateral portions have narrower spacing for safety protection. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying the appropriate spacing quality to the appropriate location.
2Reliability
If the side railing of a safety cage is spaced laterally inward to prevent the worker from falling, then fall protection is improved, but the hatch cover is not permitted to be fully opened
Solution Approach 1:
The safety cage structure is segmented into zones with different railing configurations. The lateral zones maintain closer railing spacing for fall protection, while the rear zone adjacent to the hatch has modified spacing or structural features that permit full hatch opening. This segmentation enables both safety and operational requirements to be met simultaneously in different locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The railing system exhibits local quality variations where the spacing and structural characteristics are tailored to local requirements. Areas requiring fall protection have denser railing spacing, while areas requiring hatch access have modified configurations that enable full opening. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction between safety and operability.
3Reliability
If a safety cage is used to protect the worker, then fall protection is provided, but the cage structure interferes with the ability to fully open the hatch cover
Solution Approach 1:
The safety cage incorporates dynamic or movable elements such as adjustable railings, removable panels, or flexible barriers that can be reconfigured during hatch operations. These dynamic features allow the cage to adapt its structure to permit full hatch opening while maintaining fall protection capabilities when the hatch is closed or during worker access.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety cage acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the worker's safety needs and the hatch operation requirements. By incorporating features such as gated openings, movable barriers, or strategically positioned railings, the cage provides fall protection while creating pathways or zones that allow the hatch to open fully without structural interference.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety cage improves the safety of workers servicing tanker vehicles having top side hatches. A part or parts of the cage can be repositioned to permit the hatch cover to be opened and then can be returned to a safety enhancing position.