Movable Curtain Safety Arrangement for Timber Unloading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unloading heavy goods like timber from vehicles poses a risk to personnel due to the potential fall of goods when securing means are released, and existing safety solutions like safety fences are impractical, increase vehicle weight, and limit access.

Innovation Solution

A safety arrangement comprising a curtain of flexible members suspended by a movable suspension structure that can be positioned to create a barrier between the goods and personnel, slowing down or preventing falling objects and allowing access to securing means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a safety fence is provided around the goods, then personnel safety is improved, but vehicle weight increases and fuel consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonnel safetyVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The safety arrangement uses a movable suspension structure that can transition between a resting position (during transport) and a goods-retaining position (during unloading). This dynamic configuration allows the safety barrier to be deployed only when needed, avoiding the continuous weight penalty of a fixed safety fence while maintaining personnel safety during critical unloading operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs a curtain comprising flexible members suspended from the suspension structure. These flexible members can conform to the shape of the goods and provide a safety barrier with minimal weight compared to rigid fencing materials, thereby improving personnel safety while minimizing the increase in vehicle weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If a safety fence is provided around the goods, then personnel safety is improved, but access to goods is limited and unloading is complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonnel safetyVSAvoidaccess to goods

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The movable suspension structure allows the safety barrier to be dynamically positioned. During unloading operations, the suspension structure can be moved to the goods-retaining position to protect personnel, and then moved back to the resting position when personnel need to access the goods or securing means, thereby maintaining both safety and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The curtain is divided into multiple flexible members that can be individually positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows personnel to access specific areas by moving or adjusting individual flexible members, while maintaining safety barriers in other areas, thus balancing personnel safety with ease of goods access and unloading operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the suspension structure is moved to goods-retaining position, then personnel safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonnel safetyVSAvoidsafety arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension structure serves multiple functions: it supports the curtain flexible members, provides a movable safety barrier, and can be positioned in different configurations (resting and goods-retaining positions). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby improving personnel safety while minimizing the overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 a practical and efficient safety barrier that prevents falling goods from hitting personnel while allowing secure unloading of goods, reducing the risk of accidents and maintaining vehicle access.

Implementation Method 1

each flexible member is configured to at least partially conform to the goods when the suspension structure is in the goods-retaining position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

the suspension structure is configured to be movable from a resting position to a goods-retaining position in which the longitudinal extension of the suspension structure is arranged parallel to a longitudinal extension of said vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical movement:

Data Source

PatentEP4276043A1Safety arrangement for unloading of goods from a vehicle, a method for unloading goods from a vechicle, and use of such safety arrangement

Publication Date: 2023.11.15 MARINE GRP MG AB

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a safety arrangement (1) for unloading of goods from a vehicle (11). The safety arrangement (1) comprises a curtain (2) comprising a plurality of flexible members (3), and a suspension structure (4), wherein the curtain (2) is suspended by the suspension structure (4), and wherein the suspension structure (4) is configured to be movable from a resting position to a goods-retaining position in which the longitudinal extension of the suspension structure (4) is arranged parallel to a longitudinal extension of said vehicle (11), wherein each flexible member (3) is configured to at least partially conform to the goods when the suspension structure (4) is in the goods-retaining position. The invention further relates to a port (10) comprising the safety arrangement (1), a method for unloading goods from a vehicle (11) with the safety arrangement (1), and use of the safety arrangement (1) for unloading a vehicle (11) carrying timber.