Climbing Protection Shuttle With Anti-Inversion Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing climbing protection system shuttles are not suitable for use with cables secured to structures by intermediate supports or brackets, as they cannot be easily moved over these supports, and there is a need to simplify assembly, operation, and prevent inverted loading.
Innovation Solution
A shuttle design with a clamping member that moves between free and clamping positions to grip the cable, an anti-inversion member to prevent inverted orientation, and a blocking member to secure the cable, allowing easy attachment and detachment while preventing accidental removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the shuttle is designed with a simple guiding mechanism, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to move over intermediate supports deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping member is designed to be dynamically controllable, allowing it to switch between clamping and releasing states. This enables the shuttle to be easily moved over intermediate supports when the clamping member is released, while still providing secure attachment when clamped, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If the shuttle allows free attachment and detachment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of accidental removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping member is designed to automatically engage and clamp onto the cable when the shuttle is properly positioned, without requiring additional manual intervention. This self-service mechanism ensures secure attachment while maintaining ease of operation, as the clamping action occurs automatically during the attachment process.
3Reliability
If the shuttle is designed to prevent inverted loading, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding mechanism and clamping member are designed with asymmetric features that only allow proper engagement when the shuttle is in the correct orientation. This asymmetric design prevents inverted loading without requiring additional complex components, as the geometry itself enforces proper orientation.
Data Source
AI summary
A shuttle (20) for a climbing protection system (10) is provided and includes a clamping member (26) mounted on a frame (22) for movement between a an opening position, a free position wherein the shuttle (20) can move freely along an elongate support member (12), and a clamping position wherein the clamping member (26) resists movement of the shuttle (20) relative to the elongate support member (12), and an anti-inversion member (30) mounted on the frame (22) for movement between a first closed position blocking insertion of the elongate support member (12) and an open position where the anti-inversion member (30) does not block insertion of the elongate support member (12). The anti-inversion member movable from the open position to the closed position when the shuttle (20) is moved from a desired orientation to a non-desired orientation relative to gravity with the clamping member (26) in the opening position and wherein the clamping member (26) and the anti-inversion member (30) are engaged to maintain the clamping member (26) in the opening position when the shuttle (20) is in the non-desired orientation.