Safety Barrier End Connection for Vertical Locking on Uneven Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety barriers are difficult and hazardous to interconnect due to their weight and the need for quick installation, posing a health risk to workers.
Innovation Solution
A safety barrier design with an end connection that allows for relative movement in the direction of its height, featuring a receiving space with varying distances between wall surfaces to facilitate easier and safer connection, enabling angled or uneven terrain installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If safety barriers are made heavy and robust to ensure sturdiness, then the barriers become more stable and protective, but the barriers become more difficult and hazardous to install
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is divided into multiple segments that can be connected through end connections. Each segment can be handled individually during installation, reducing the lifting effort required while maintaining the overall strength and sturdiness of the complete barrier system.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary connection mechanism is introduced between barrier segments. The end connections with receiving spaces act as intermediaries that facilitate easy coupling of heavy barrier segments without requiring direct manual handling of the full barrier weight, thus improving installation safety.
2Productivity
If safety barriers are designed for quick installation, then the installation time is reduced, but the installation process becomes more hazardous due to the weight of the barriers
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the barrier into manageable sections with standardized end connections, workers can quickly assemble the barrier system without repeatedly lifting heavy monolithic structures. The modular design enables rapid installation while distributing the physical effort across multiple lighter components.
Solution Approach 2:
The end connections are designed to enable self-aligning and self-securing during installation. The receiving space geometry allows the connecting segments to automatically orient and lock together, reducing the time and manual intervention required for each connection while maintaining safety.
3Device complexity
If the receiving space has a uniform distance between wall surfaces, then the connection is simple to design, but the barrier cannot accommodate angled or uneven terrain installation
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving space is designed with non-uniform distance characteristics - the distance between wall surfaces varies at different locations within the receiving space. This local variation in geometry enables the connection to accommodate angular orientations and uneven terrain while maintaining overall structural integrity and connection security.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety barrier is provided. The barrier has a length, a width, and a height. The barrier has an end connection at an end of the safety barrier, which end connection is arranged to be connected with a corresponding end connection of another safety barrier. The end connection comprises a receiving space adapted to receive at least a portion of an end connection of another safety barrier, and to only enable connection and disconnection with the corresponding end connection of another safety barrier by movement of the safety barriers relative to each other in direction of the height of the safety barrier. A distance through the receiving space between wall surfaces of the receiving space in the direction of the length of the safety barrier is at a minimum between upper and lower ends of the end connection and is greater at the ends.