Attic Ladder Load Transport System with Winch and Ratchet
Solution Overview
Problem
Repetitive trips up and down ladders, such as attic ladders, strain users and increase the risk of injury and falling due to the need to carry tools and materials, which disrupts the user's center of gravity and puts additional weight on the back, shoulders, and arms.
Innovation Solution
A load lifting system comprising a ladder with step braces, a rail, a belt guide, rollers, a winch, and a platform floor that allows for easy transport of loads up or down the ladder by using a belt and pulley mechanism to minimize strain and risk of injury, with step braces engaging the ladder steps for stability and a ratchet gear to control the platform's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users carry tools and materials up and down the ladder manually, then the task of transporting items can be completed, but user strain and risk of injury increase due to weight and disrupted center of gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a platform car as an intermediary device between the user and the load. The platform car travels along rails on the ladder, allowing users to transport tools and materials without carrying them manually. The winch system further mediates the lifting operation, converting manual cranking into controlled platform movement, thereby eliminating direct physical strain on users while transporting loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual carrying mechanism with a mechanical winch and pulley system. The winch, mounted on the ladder, uses a drum and cable to lift and lower the platform car automatically when cranked, substituting the user's direct mechanical effort with a mechanical advantage system that reduces strain while maintaining the ability to transport heavy loads.
2Ease of operation
If a lifting system is added to the ladder, then ease of transporting loads improves, but device complexity increases due to additional components like rails, winch, and platform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the platform car to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the load-bearing platform and the moving carriage along the rails. The winch system is integrated directly into the ladder structure, with the drum mounted on the ladder frame and the cable routing through guides attached to the ladder. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby managing complexity while providing comprehensive load transport capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting system is segmented into modular components: the platform car, the rails, the winch assembly, and the cable system. Each component can be independently installed, adjusted, or maintained. The rails are attached to specific ladder rungs, allowing the system to be configured for different ladder types and heights, which reduces overall system complexity by allowing standardized parts to be combined in various configurations.
3Productivity
If the platform floor travels downward along the rail, then load transport efficiency improves, but uncontrolled acceleration downward may occur without a braking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a ratchet mechanism that provides one-way mechanical feedback control. The ratchet allows the platform car to be lowered controlledly when the winch is operated in reverse, but automatically locks to prevent uncontrolled downward movement. This mechanical feedback system ensures that gravity-assisted descent is controlled and safe, maintaining reliability while enabling efficient bidirectional load transport.
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
The system enables safe and efficient transport of loads up or down the ladder, reducing strain on users and minimizing the risk of injury by maintaining balance and stability, while allowing for easy deployment and use with the attic ladder.
Implementation Method 1
a winch (30) having a drum (70) mounted upon an axle shaft (75) which is in physical communication with two (2) support flanges (80)
Implementation Method 2
a ratchet gear (60) and associated stop lever (65)
Implementation Method 3
a pulley (12)
Implementation Method 4
A pair of rollers (41a, 41b) are vertically aligned with each other and are rotatably mounted to inner surfaces of the belt guide (40)
Data Source
AI summary
A lifting aid for an attic ladder includes a track system having a plurality of attachment means configured to secure about a corresponding number of attic ladder rungs. A hand winch is secured to the base of the device and is in mechanical operation with a tray which runs up and down the attic ladder to which the track system is secured.