Fall Protection Connector With Segmented Locking Gate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fall protection safety apparatus connectors are not sufficiently reliable and user-friendly, failing to securely interconnect safety lines with full-body safety harnesses, particularly under the forces of a fall.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a base with receiving and locking portions, a gate, and a locking mechanism that includes biasing members and rivets, allowing for secure engagement and easy release, ensuring the gate can be moved relative to the base for user-friendly operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a connector uses a simple gate structure for easy operation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates because the gate may not securely withstand fall forces
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into distinct functional components: a gate for easy opening/closing operation, and separate locking mechanisms that independently secure the gate to the base. This segmentation allows the gate to remain simple and user-friendly while the locking mechanisms provide robust security to withstand fall forces.
Solution Approach 2:
Locking mechanisms act as intermediary elements between the simple gate structure and the base. These intermediaries transfer and secure the forces between the gate and base, allowing the gate itself to remain simple and easy to operate while still providing reliable fall protection through the locking mechanisms.
2Reliability
If a connector uses a secure locking mechanism to withstand fall forces, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because release becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanisms are designed with dynamic release capability - they maintain a secure locked state under normal conditions and fall forces, but can be easily released when activation force is applied to the release mechanism. This dynamic behavior allows the system to be both reliable during use and easy to release when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanisms automatically engage and secure the gate to the base without requiring user intervention, providing self-service locking. The release mechanism then allows easy user activation to disengage the locks, combining automatic security with simple release operation.
3Reliability
If a connector uses multiple locking mechanisms to enhance security, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector uses multiple locking mechanisms positioned at different locations on the gate, with each mechanism being a simple, standardized component. This segmentation distributes the security function across multiple simple elements rather than one complex mechanism, enhancing reliability while keeping individual components simple and the overall design manageable.
Data Source
Figure 1~3A
Figure 3B
Figure 4~7
AI summary
A connector comprises a base, a gate, and a locking mechanism. The base forms an opening. The gate is slidably operatively connected to the base and spans the opening. The locking member has an engaging position and a releasing position. The engaging position secures the gate to the base, and the releasing position allows the gate to be moved relative to the base.