Cable Tension Overload Fuse Assembly for Sports Netting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports netting systems face structural integrity issues due to excessive forces from dynamic loads, leading to potential damage or failure of support structures, and current mechanical fuse links cause safety concerns when they break, allowing the net to fall and complicating repairs.
Innovation Solution
A cable tension overload fuse assembly featuring a mechanical fuse link coupled with a rescue cable that allows the barrier cable to sag and reduce transmitted forces to structural supports, maintaining a connection to prevent uncontrolled drops and facilitate controlled lowering for repairs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If structural supports are designed to be more robust to support potential load without damage, then structural integrity is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating a fuse link that is designed to fail at a predetermined load threshold before the structural support experiences damaging forces. This sacrificial component absorbs the excess energy and protects the main structural support from overload, allowing the use of less robust (and therefore less expensive) support structures while maintaining structural integrity under normal operating conditions.
2Strength
If a mechanical fuse link is used to prevent damage to supports, then structural protection is improved, but safety deteriorates when the link breaks causing the net to fall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a controlled release mechanism that acts as a mediator between the fuse link failure and the net barrier. When the fuse link breaks, the controlled release mechanism gradually lowers the net barrier to the ground rather than allowing it to drop suddenly, thereby maintaining safety during the failure event while still providing structural protection through the fuse link.
3Strength
If a mechanical fuse link breaks to protect supports, then structural protection is improved, but repair complexity increases due to cable retrieval requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The controlled release mechanism serves as an intermediary that facilitates easier repair by automatically managing the net barrier's descent to the ground when the fuse link fails. This eliminates the need for repair personnel to manually retrieve the cable from the top of the support structure, significantly reducing repair complexity and time while maintaining the structural protection function of the fuse link.
4Productivity
If the barrier cable is tensioned to minimize static sag, then structural efficiency is improved, but force transmission to supports increases under dynamic loads
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse link acts as a beforehand cushioning element that is pre-designed to fail at a specific force threshold. This allows the barrier cable to be tensioned to minimize static sag for structural efficiency, while the fuse link provides prior protection against excessive force transmission to the supports under dynamic loads such as wind or snow, preventing support damage.
Data Source
AI summary
A fuse link that having a body including a rigid member, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. A reduced material portion of the body is positioned between the first and second ends, the reduced material portion is configured to fail in response to a predetermined load.