Facade Protection Net Force Dissipation via Support Cables

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective devices for building facades are complex and do not effectively dissipate tensile forces from safety nets into the building structure, posing risks to the facade's statics.

Innovation Solution

A protective device featuring supporting ropes fastened in the upper area of the building, with safety nets attached to these ropes to dissipate forces directly into the building, using standard climbing technology components and additional transverse cables for reinforcement, and optionally incorporating a flexible information surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If safety nets are attached to scaffolding as in prior art, then the protective function is provided, but the structure becomes complex and forces are not effectively dissipated into the building

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce dissipation into buildingVSAvoidscaffolding structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the safety net attachment from the scaffolding structure and directly connects it to the building via supporting ropes. This removes the intermediate scaffolding element, simplifying the overall structure while ensuring forces are directly transmitted to the building's load-bearing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting ropes are asymmetrically arranged with different attachment points on the building facade, allowing optimized force distribution. The ropes are positioned to effectively channel tensile forces from the safety nets into the building structure at strategically located anchor points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of manufacture

If scaffolding is used to support protective nets, then the nets can be installed, but safety regulations require complex structures that are not simple

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidscaffolding requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting ropes serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the safety nets, channel tensile forces to the building, and can be easily installed and removed. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate scaffolding structures, simplifying both installation and compliance with safety regulations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the structural parameters from rigid scaffolding to flexible supporting ropes with adjustable tension. This allows the system to adapt to different building facades and load conditions while maintaining simplicity and ease of installation, complying with safety regulations without requiring complex fixed structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If protective nets are attached to scaffolding, then coverage is provided, but the arrangement is complex and not particularly reliable for force dissipation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotective functionVSAvoidarrangement structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting ropes act as intermediaries between the safety nets and the building structure. They efficiently transmit and distribute tensile forces from the nets to the building's anchor points, providing a reliable force dissipation path while maintaining a simple overall arrangement without requiring complex scaffolding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP1870539B1Protection device for building façades
Publication Date: 2011.12.07 BLOWUP MEDIA
  • EP1870539B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1870539B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1870539B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a protective device for building facades, comprising at least one protective net (20) which is mounted at a distance from the facade (14) of a building (12) and at least partially covers the facade (14). According to the invention, the protective device is further developed in that several support cables (30) are provided, which are attached in an upper area (16) of the building (12) and are tensioned downwards in the vertical direction (18), and that the protective net (20) or nets are attached to the support cables (30) so that any tensile forces that may occur on the protective nets (20) can be dissipated into the building (12) via the support cables (30).