Adjusting Bridge for Mast Climbing Work Platforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mast climbing work platforms face challenges in maintaining a consistent distance from varying building structures, such as tapered or curved surfaces, leading to safety concerns and difficulties in adjusting anchors, especially when the platforms move up and down.
Innovation Solution
A work platform system with two upright masts and an adjusting bridge that automatically synchronizes the movement of the platforms, using a motion transmitting mechanism driven by the platforms' movement, to maintain a constant distance from the structure, eliminating the need for external power and ensuring the work area remains close to the building surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the work platforms are positioned close to the building structure at the bottom, then worker safety is improved, but the distance between the work platforms and the structure increases when moving upwards
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge is made adjustable and movable between the two work platforms, allowing it to dynamically adapt its position and configuration as the platforms move to different heights. This enables the system to maintain optimal working distances from the structure at any elevation, resolving the contradiction between safety at low positions and operational flexibility at high positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides the work area into multiple segments (two separate work platforms connected by an adjustable bridge), allowing each platform to be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation enables the bridge to be configured at different angles and positions to maintain appropriate distances from the structure throughout vertical movement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the diameter of the structure changes along its height, then adaptability to various building shapes is improved, but the length of anchors needed changes making attachment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge incorporates adjustable mechanisms that allow it to adapt its length, angle, and position dynamically. This enables the system to accommodate structures with varying diameters and shapes at different heights without requiring custom anchors for each configuration, simplifying the attachment process while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable bridge serves multiple functions: it connects platforms at different heights, accommodates various structure diameters, and maintains safety distances. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for specialized anchors for different building shapes, as the bridge's adjustability provides universal adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If an overhand system is used to extend the work platform, then the distance to the structure can be adjusted, but the system becomes troublesome to adjust and cannot be lowered before unloading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the distance adjustment function from a complex overhand system with extendable floors and implements it through the simpler adjustable bridge mechanism. The bridge's direct adjustability provides the same functionality without the complexity of extendable floor systems, allowing easy distance modification and platform lowering before unloading.
4Quantity of substance
If two work platforms are connected to maintain larger work area, then loading capacity is improved, but synchronization of movement becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable bridge acts as an intermediary mechanism that passively synchronizes the movement of the two work platforms. As one platform moves, the bridge's geometric constraints and adjustability automatically coordinate the movement of the second platform, maintaining synchronization without requiring complex active control systems or additional power sources.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures worker safety by maintaining a consistent work area proximity to the structure during platform movement, simplifying operations and reducing the complexity of anchor adjustments, while providing a reliable and versatile system for various building shapes.
Implementation Method 1
The adjusting bridge comprises a motion transmitting mechanism adapted to automatically synchronize movements of the first and second ends along the first and second work platforms
Data Source
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AI summary
An adjusting bridge (03) suitable for connecting a first and second work platforms (02a, 02b) of a work platform systems and connected to a first and the second masts (01a, 01b), respectively (03), the first and second work platforms (02a, 02b) being capable of climbing up and down along the first and the second masts (01a, 01b) and moving simultaneously in such a way that the first and second work platforms (02a, 02b) stay substantially at the same height in relation to each other. The adjusting bridge (03) comprises opposite first and second ends (04a, 04b) adapted to be move on the first and second work platforms (02a, 02b), respectively. The adjusting bridge (03) is moved by an actuator or the adjusting bridge (03) comprises a motion transmitting mechanism (05a, 05b, 05c) adapted to automatically synchronize movements of the first and second ends (04a, 04b) when the first and second work platforms (02a, 02b) are moving up or down. The motion transmitting mechanism (05a, 05b, 05c) is adapted to be driven mechanically by the movement of the first and second work platforms (02a, 02b) in relation to each other.