Fall Protection Device with Rolling Friction Deceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fall protection devices face challenges such as improper belt length, structural weakening due to energy absorption, and potential for internal injuries from sudden impact forces, which can lead to inadequate safety and increased risk of injury or death during falls from elevated work sites.
Innovation Solution
A fall protection device comprising a frame, shaft, decelerating member with friction surfaces, and safety belt base, where the decelerating member generates rolling friction to slow down the user's fall speed, and includes a braking assembly and spiral spring for controlled deployment and recovery of the safety belt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a conventional fall protection device uses a stretchable safety belt to cushion falling, then the user's falling speed is slowed down, but the belt length must be precisely matched to the working height to prevent the user from hitting the ground before the belt engages
Solution Approach 1:
The safety belt transitions from a static fixed-length design to a dynamic variable-length design through the unrolling mechanism. The belt length adjusts automatically based on the fall distance, allowing the belt to remain compact during normal use and extend only when needed during a fall, eliminating the need to pre-match belt length to working height.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety belt is divided into multiple segments or layers that can be stacked and unrolled sequentially. This segmentation allows the belt to provide cushioning force through progressive engagement of multiple layers, effectively increasing the usable length while maintaining a compact form factor during normal operations.
2Force
If another conventional fall protection device uses a partially folded and sewed safety belt to absorb falling energy, then the cushioning effect is provided, but the structure of the safety belt is destructed and the loading ability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the potentially harmful tearing action into a beneficial energy absorption mechanism. Instead of tearing the belt to absorb energy (which weakens the structure), the design uses controlled friction between stacked belt layers to dissipate falling energy, preserving the belt's structural integrity and loading capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
A friction layer or friction surface is introduced as an intermediary between the safety belt layers. This intermediary element provides the necessary friction for energy absorption during falls without directly damaging the safety belt structure, allowing repeated use while maintaining strength.
3Speed
If a conventional fall protection device provides a quick-locked effect to prevent falling, then the user stops falling immediately, but the instantaneous impact force and reaction force may cause internal injuries or bone fractures
Solution Approach 1:
The safety belt is designed with multiple stacked layers that are prepared in advance to provide progressive cushioning. During a fall, these layers engage sequentially, creating a progressive deceleration effect rather than an instantaneous stop. This beforehand preparation of multiple cushioning layers reduces the peak impact force on the user's body.
Solution Approach 2:
The deceleration process is divided into periodic stages corresponding to the sequential engagement of different belt layers. Instead of a single instantaneous locking action, the system provides periodic friction-based deceleration through multiple layers, extending the stopping time and reducing peak forces.
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 device effectively slows down the user's fall speed, reduces the risk of injury by distributing the impact force, and is easier to produce, providing enhanced safety and usability in elevated work environments.
Implementation Method 1
the friction surfaces of the decelerating member rubs the inner peripheral surface to generate a rolling friction, thereby to slow down or to limit the falling speed of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A fall protection device is used to connect with a safety belt, including a frame having a receiving space, a shaft disposed on the frame, a decelerating member connected to the shaft and disposed in the receiving space, and a safety belt base fitted around the decelerating member. An outer peripheral surface of the decelerating member has a plurality of friction surfaces arranged at intervals. The safety belt base has an outer peripheral surface adapted to be wrapped by the safety belt and an inner peripheral surface being in contact with the friction surfaces thereof. With the design describing above, the friction surfaces rub the inner peripheral surface to generate a rolling friction, thereby to slow down an unwound speed of the safety belt.