Barge Access Stairway With Rotatable Ladder for Negative Reach
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Accessing the interior of large transport containers, such as barges or open hopper railcars, is difficult due to their elevated decks, necessitating a negative reach capability that current ladders and manlifts do not provide, especially when the container rises or lowers relative to the dock.
Innovation Solution
A cantilevering stairway and platform combination with a ladder system that allows workers to move up and down from the container's top side, featuring a first and second pathway, a frame with feet, a support segment, and a rotatable ladder holder, enabling access to the container's interior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional ladders or manlifts are used to access transport containers, then workers can reach the container deck, but they cannot safely descend into the container interior when the container is elevated
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus inverts the traditional access approach by providing a descent pathway that extends below the container floor level. Instead of only ascending to the deck, the second pathway and ladder system enable workers to safely descend into and below the container interior, addressing the negative reach capability need when containers are elevated.
Solution Approach 2:
The access system is divided into distinct segments: a first pathway for ascent to the deck, a landing platform at the deck level, and a second pathway with ladder for descent into the container. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to solve the overall access problem.
2Productivity
If the container rises or lowers relative to the dock during loading/unloading, then cargo can be efficiently transferred, but worker access to the deck and interior becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus incorporates dynamic adaptability through the rotatable ladder holder and adjustable pathway configurations. As the container rises or lowers during loading/unloading operations, the system can adjust its geometry and positioning to maintain safe and efficient worker access to both the deck and interior, unlike static traditional ladders.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus serves multiple functions: it provides ascent to the deck, descent into the container, and stable positioning during container movement. The integrated design with pathway, landing, and ladder components creates a universal access system that handles various container positions and loading scenarios.
3Adaptability or versatility
If workers must access near-top locations on elevated containers to adjust dock lines, then dock line adjustment is possible, but the access requirement creates safety and operational difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The landing platform serves as an intermediary station at the container deck level, providing a stable intermediate platform for workers to access near-top locations for dock line adjustment. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for workers to directly climb to precarious heights, improving safety while maintaining operational capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus used to assist workers with entry into a barge that allows a user to go over the barge wall and descend to access the bottom of the barge. The apparatus includes a first pathway 3, a landing 17 and a second pathway 4. The first pathway 3 has a low end 21 and a high end 22 and the second pathway has a landing end 23. The high end 22 is elevated from the low end 21 with the high end 22 being attached to the landing 17. The landing end 17 is attached to the landing. There is a frame 18 and at least one foot 2 attached to and supporting the frame 18. The low end 21 is attached to the frame 18. Included is a support segment 16 that has a first end 25 and a second end 24. The first end 25 is fixedly attached to the second pathway 4. There is also a holder 7 that is rotatably attached to the second end 24. And a ladder 6 that is slidably attached to that holder 7.