Telescopic Edge Protection Post With Corner Self-Locking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing telescopic support posts for edge protection systems are cumbersome to mount between a floor and a ceiling, requiring users to hold the inner tube in an extended position while operating the tensioning lever, leading to instability and rattling noise due to play between the tubes.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic edge protection post with a polygonal cross-section and a locking mechanism featuring a fixed and movable element, where the movable element engages with two adjacent sides of the inner tube at a corner, providing self-locking frictional engagement and reducing instability, along with a lower tensioning device at the floor end to distribute weight more evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user holds the inner tube in the extended position while operating the lever to tension the post, then the post can be mounted between floor and ceiling, but the mounting process becomes troublesome and requires two-handed operation
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-locking through frictional engagement. The movable element automatically locks the inner tube in the extended position without requiring the user to manually hold it, allowing one-handed operation and simplifying the mounting procedure
2Stability of the object's composition
If a locking mechanism engages with a single side or two opposite sides of the inner tube, then the structure is simpler, but play between tubes causes instability and rattling noise
Solution Approach 1:
The movable element is arranged at a corner of the inner tube and engages with two adjacent sides at that corner, creating an asymmetric engagement pattern. This corner-based engagement provides stable locking in all transverse directions and eliminates play between tubes, preventing instability and rattling noise
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
Facilitates easy extension and retraction of the post with reduced instability and noise, allowing for simpler and safer mounting and operation by eliminating the need to hold the inner tube in place during extension, while maintaining stability through controlled locking and tensioning.
Implementation Method 1
the engagement between the movable element and the inner tube, in the locking position, is frictional. The locking mechanism is thereby self-locking.
Implementation Method 2
the locking mechanism may be arranged to enable the movable element to enter the locking position by means of the gravity force, i.e. by means of its own weight.
Data Source
AI summary
A telescopic edge protection post arrangeable between a floor and a ceiling, wherein the telescopic edge protection post comprises an outer tube having a floor end and a top end, and an inner tube having a bottom end and a ceiling end. The inner tube extends into the outer tube and is movable with respect thereto between an extended position and a collapsed position. The post further has a locking mechanism arranged to lock the inner tube with respect to the outer tube, and a tensioning device. The locking mechanism comprises a fixed element, which is attached to the outer tube at its top end, and a movable element, which is movable with respect to the fixed element between a locking position in which the movable element engages with the inner tube and the fixed element to prevent the inner tube from being retracted into the outer tube.