External Elastic Bushing Climb Bracket for Visible Fall Attenuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety climb fixtures suffer from issues such as hidden attenuation springs requiring manual inspection, proximity to structures causing damage, obstructed visibility, frequent maintenance due to water retention, and susceptibility to corrosion and incorrect installation.
Innovation Solution
A safety climb attenuation bracket with a pivot arm and elastic bushing that is externally accessible for visual inspection, positioned to avoid damage to structures, and features a robust design for reduced maintenance and corrosion resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the attenuation spring is enclosed in a closed housing, then the internal components are protected from damage, but the housing requires physical access (crane or climbing) for inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a housing portion and an attenuation member portion that can function independently. The attenuation member is segmented from the housing, allowing it to be accessed and inspected separately while the housing remains in place on the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The attenuation member is extracted from the enclosed housing and positioned externally. This extraction allows inspectors to visually examine the attenuation member from ground level without needing to open the housing or physically access the internal components.
2Device complexity
If the safety cable is positioned close to the tower, then the fixture is compact, but the cable can damage the tower and equipment mounted on it
Solution Approach 1:
The safety cable is repositioned from a vertical arrangement close to the tower into a horizontal or outward-extending arrangement. The horizontal arm extension projects the cable away from the tower structure, changing the spatial dimension of the fixture to eliminate contact with the tower while maintaining compactness.
3Device complexity
If the safety cable is positioned close to the tower, then the fixture is compact, but the viewing of the fixture from ground is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture components are arranged in a horizontal plane extending outward from the tower rather than vertically along the tower. This dimensional change allows ground-level viewing and inspection of the attenuation member and cable attachment points without obstruction from the tower structure.
4Reliability
If conventional fixtures are used with extended periods, then they provide continuous protection, but they degrade due to water retention and corrosion requiring frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The attenuation member is extracted from the enclosed housing and positioned externally, making it accessible for inspection and maintenance. This allows frequent visual checks and easy replacement of the attenuation member without disassembling the housing or requiring complex access procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The external positioning of the attenuation member allows it to be self-inspectable through visual examination. Inspectors can easily determine whether the attenuation member is in working order by looking at it from ground level, enabling self-service level monitoring without requiring specialized access equipment.
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 solution provides reliable and maintainable safety climb protection with improved visibility and reduced maintenance needs, ensuring effective fall attenuation without damaging structures.
Implementation Method 1
an attenuation member which is an elastic bushing that resists compression between the pivot arm member and the base member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A safety climb attenuation apparatus provides a more robust and visually inspectable apparatus for climbing safety. In an upper bracket, a pivot arm is attached to a base that is disposed upon a structure. The upper bracket includes an attenuation member such as an elastic bushing, mounted on the pivot arm or the base, that resists pivoting of the pivot arm relative to the base when a safety cable attached to the pivot arm causes the pivot arm to pivot. In a lower bracket, a similar attenuation member is attached to a base disposed on the structure, with an anchor bolt connecting the cable to the attenuation member so that the attenuation member resists upward movement of the cable.