Cover Element with Sealing Collar for Debris Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fossil-fired steam generators, the existing systems for forming a protected work area within a combustion chamber are inadequate as they fail to completely seal the space against falling debris, posing safety risks to workers due to arches or free spaces between anchoring points, which increase when loaded with falling materials.
Innovation Solution
A cover element with a circumferential collar that rests directly against the wall, ensuring no gaps form between the cover element and the wall, even under load, combined with an angled design and inflexible fastening means to maintain contact and prevent debris from falling through, and a fabric material with reinforcement and coating for enhanced durability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cover element is fastened to the wall by lifting and tensioning cables at discrete anchoring points, then the cover element can be installed and positioned in the work space, but arches or free spaces form between the anchoring points that allow debris to pass through
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible collar made of fabric or foil material that is tensioned between the cover element and the wall. This flexible element fills the free spaces between discrete anchoring points, preventing debris from passing through while maintaining the simplicity of point-based cable fastening. The collar acts as a continuous sealing membrane that conforms to the wall surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar serves as an intermediary element between the cover element and the wall. Instead of directly fastening the cover element to the wall at multiple points, the collar is tensioned between them, mediating the connection and simultaneously providing the sealing function that would otherwise require direct continuous contact.
2Reliability
If the cover element is tensioned to reduce free spaces, then sealing improves, but the material tension creates arches that increase free spaces when loaded with falling debris
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the sealing function from the load-bearing function. The collar is divided into a lower portion that provides sealing against the wall and an upper portion that connects to the cover element. This segmentation allows the lower portion to maintain continuous contact for sealing while the upper portion handles the dynamic loads from debris through the cable-fastening mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is pre-tensioned during installation to eliminate initial free spaces and arches before any debris loading occurs. This preliminary tensioning creates a tight seal that prevents debris from entering the work space in the first place, cushioning against the potential harm before it can occur.
3Ease of operation
If work platforms are used to allow workers below the platform, then accessibility is improved, but safety is compromised due to falling debris risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of falling debris into a benefit by using the debris catchment area above the cover element. The collar and cover element system is designed to capture and contain falling debris in the upper region, preventing it from reaching workers in the lower work space. The hazard of falling materials becomes a contained feature that protects rather than endangers workers.
Data Source
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AI summary
The system has a cover element (24) moved to a workspace (12). Lifting- and/or tensioning ropes (30a, 30b) are insertable through a passage (32) in a wall (22) of the workspace, and are attachable at stop points (60a, 60b) that are provided at the cover element. The cover element completely overstretches cross-sectional area of the workspace in a usage position (34) of the cover element to form a protected working area. The cover element comprises a circumferential collar along an edge region of a base surface of the cover element, and directly lies at the wall in the usage position.