Building-Integrated Rescue Boom for High-Rise Evacuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Evacuating people from high or great heights, such as wind turbines and high-rise buildings, poses challenges due to the limitations of traditional rescue methods like helicopters in fire situations, where they are either too slow or too risky.

Innovation Solution

A personal rescue system featuring a structure-mounted bracket with a self-extending boom and a rescue basket that can be extended horizontally, allowing for autonomous operation without external power, providing a safe and reliable means to transport individuals away from danger zones, and can be reused with minimal costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If helicopter rescue is used to evacuate people from high structures, then rescue coverage is improved, but response time increases and safety deteriorates in fire situations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverescue coverageVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The rescue system is pre-installed on the structure with the boom in a retracted position. All components are prepared in advance including the self-extending mechanism, rescue cage, and structural mounting, so that evacuation can begin immediately without waiting for external rescue resources to arrive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The boom is designed to be self-extending using stored potential energy from a pre-tensioned spring or pre-positioned weight, eliminating the need for external power supply or manual operation during the emergency evacuation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If helicopter rescue is used to evacuate people from high structures, then rescue coverage is improved, but safety deteriorates due to operating near fire

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverescue coverageVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The self-extending boom acts as an intermediary mechanical system that transports persons directly from the structure to a safe position without requiring helicopter proximity to the fire zone. The rescue cage serves as a protected intermediary environment during transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If a traditional rescue system with external power supply is used, then functionality is improved, but reliability deteriorates when power supply is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidoperational reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The boom utilizes a self-extending mechanism with a pre-tensioned spring or pre-positioned weight that stores potential energy, eliminating dependence on external power supplies. The system automatically extends when activated, ensuring operation remains reliable even when electrical power is compromised.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Speed

If vertical evacuation is used to move people away from danger, then evacuation speed is improved, but safety deteriorates due to falling debris

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevacuation speedVSAvoidfalling debris exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from purely vertical evacuation to horizontal evacuation by extending the boom outward from the structure. This dimensional change moves persons laterally away from the building envelope where falling debris is most likely to occur, while maintaining rapid evacuation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 effectively moves people to a safe horizontal distance from the danger area, reducing risks from falling debris and allowing for helicopter rescue, enabling simultaneous rescues from multiple heights and ensuring safety in various environments, including water surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

the boom includes, for example, a spring or a similar pre-tensioning device that is pre-tensioned when the boom is retracted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

It is also intended that the required energy be stored as potential energy, for example, using a weight

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPotential energy: Potential Well

Data Source

PatentEP3492145B1Person rescue system and method for evacuating people from a building
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY SERVICE GMBH
  • EP3492145B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3492145B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3492145B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a personnel rescue system (2) and a method for evacuating persons from a building, as well as a wind turbine (40). The invention further relates to a personnel rescue system (2) for evacuating persons from a building, comprising a building-integrated support (4) and a rescue basket (6), wherein the building-integrated support (4) is permanently connected to the building and comprises a boom (8) to the free end (10) of which the rescue basket (6) is attached, wherein the boom (8) is designed to extend automatically.