Collapsible Hand Rail Integrated with Conveyor
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the construction industry, particularly in roofing, workers face injuries from manual handling of materials and the need for mechanical assistance to reach high heights, with existing conveyor systems being limited in reach and maneuverability in congested areas, and lacking safe access solutions for workers.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible hand rail system integrated with a conveyor that allows safe access to rooftops by providing a stable hand rail support system, featuring fiberglass or steel components with gas shock assistance for ease of use and safety, and a hydraulic selector switch to prevent conveyor operation when the hand rail is erected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If workers manually carry roofing materials to the rooftop, then no mechanical assistance is needed, but worker injuries occur from manual handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical carrying with an automated conveyor system that uses a belt mechanism to transport roofing materials to the rooftop, eliminating the need for workers to manually handle heavy materials and thereby preventing worker injuries from manual handling
2Length of stationary object
If a 40' conveyor is mounted on a semi trailer, then materials can be conveyed to high heights, but the system is hard to maneuver in tight and congested areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conveyor system into a compact configuration that can be mounted on smaller truck beds (24'-26' instead of semi-trailers), allowing the conveyor to be divided into manageable sections that can be easily maneuvered through tight and congested areas while still achieving the required 50' reach through telescopic extension
3Length of stationary object
If a telescoping conveyor is designed for 50' reach, then materials can be delivered to high rooftops, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a telescoping conveyor design where sections of the conveyor belt and support structure are nested within each other, allowing the system to extend to 50' reach by deploying telescopic sections while maintaining a compact storage configuration that reduces overall system complexity
4Ease of operation
If workers use a ladder to access the rooftop, then no additional safety equipment is needed, but safe access is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the material conveyor function with a worker safety platform function by integrating handrails and safety features into the conveyor structure itself, allowing workers to safely accompany materials up the incline while using the same equipment, thereby providing both material handling and worker safety in a single integrated system
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
Enables safer and more efficient material handling by allowing workers to use the conveyor as a safe access route to rooftops, reducing the risk of injury and improving operational efficiency in reaching high heights and congested areas.
Implementation Method 1
featuring fiberglass or steel components with gas shock assistance for ease of use and safety
Implementation Method 2
a hydraulic selector switch to prevent conveyor operation when the hand rail is erected
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible hand rail system integrated with a conveyor for conveying materials from ground level to a roof top or to a level higher than ground level including a first and a second hand rail apparatus, one apparatus mountable to a left side of the conveyor and the other apparatus mountable to the right side of the conveyor, a plurality of post mounting brackets mounted in equal numbers to each side of the conveyor, a plurality of vertical support posts rotably connected to the hand rails and rotably anchored at the brackets, a pair of rear post mounting brackets, one at each side of the conveyor, and a pair of rear vertical support posts, one at each side of the conveyor wherein the first and second hand rail apparatus are collapsible from an erected position and erectable from a collapsed position.