Articulated Railing Assembly Deck for Shoring Tower Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Erecting shoring towers poses challenges in occupational safety and ergonomics due to the risk of falls and cumbersome installation methods, particularly when installing girder grids and railing elements, which often require working overhead and lack adequate fall protection.
Innovation Solution
The assembly deck design features a walkable deck element with articulated railing elements that can pivot, allowing hooks to be strategically placed for safe suspension and assembly, ensuring fall protection by requiring advance installation of scaffolding level components, thus eliminating the need for overhead work and enhancing ergonomics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If girder grids are installed in every second scaffolding level by hooking them into opposite bars, then the shoring tower structure is strengthened, but the installer must work overhead which creates ergonomic problems and fall risks
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly deck is designed with articulated railing elements that can be installed in advance of the worker's position. The railing elements are attached to the deck element and can be positioned before the worker needs to access that level, eliminating the need to work overhead and install railings simultaneously with deck installation.
2Strength
If the shoring tower height is increased to support larger loads, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the risk of fitter falling from height increases
Solution Approach 1:
Fall protection railing elements are installed in advance as part of the assembly deck system. The articulated railing elements can be positioned and secured before the worker reaches that elevation level, ensuring continuous fall protection throughout the tower height without requiring the worker to install them at height.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly deck with articulated railing elements serves as an intermediary platform that provides a safe working surface and integrated fall protection. This mediator system allows workers to access high levels for installation work while being protected by pre-positioned railings, eliminating the direct exposure to fall hazards.
3Stability of the object's composition
If railing elements are connected via crossbars making them non-pivoting, then structural stability is improved, but it becomes more difficult to hang decking in spaced-apart scaffolding ladders
Solution Approach 1:
The railing elements are designed with articulated connections that allow them to pivot independently. This dynamic design enables the railing elements to adapt to different installation configurations and be hung in spaced-apart scaffolding ladders, while still providing stable fall protection when installed.
Data Source
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AI summary
The mounting pad (10) has a covering element (12), and a railing element (14) that is attached to an end surface (30) of the covering element. A railing element (16) attached to an end surface (32) of the covering element is articulated. Two mutually spaced hooks (34) are provided at the regions of end surfaces of the covering element or at the free end of the railing element (14). The mutually spaced hooks (36) are provided at the region of free end of the railing element (16). An independent claim is included for mounting method for securely constructing the supporting frame tower.