Portable Fall Restraint System with Triggered Anchor Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fall protection systems for construction workers, particularly in the roofing industry, are often complex, expensive, difficult to use, and can limit movement, leading to inadequate usage and a high risk of fatal falls, with small establishments being disproportionately affected.
Innovation Solution
A portable fall restraint system featuring a firing block mechanism with a trigger mechanism and safety interlock, deploying anchors automatically upon a fall, ensuring easy operation and minimizing damage to the work surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If comprehensive fall protection systems are provided, then worker safety is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fall protection system is divided into separate functional modules: a trigger mechanism, multiple firing blocks with independent cylinders, and individual anchors. Each component can be independently manufactured, tested, and replaced. The mounting frame separates the trigger mechanism from the firing blocks, allowing modular assembly and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining safety functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs automatic anchor deployment through a trigger mechanism that activates firing pins when pulled. The firing pins automatically strike firing cartridges to deploy anchors without requiring manual intervention during the critical arrest moment. This self-activating mechanism reduces operational complexity and ensures rapid response during falls.
2Reliability
If comprehensive fall protection systems are provided, then worker safety is improved, but installation and removal difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed as modular components that can be independently installed and removed. The mounting frame can be separately installed on the work surface, and firing blocks can be individually attached or detached. This segmentation allows workers to install only the necessary components for their specific task without complex assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The firing blocks are pre-loaded with firing cartridges and anchors before deployment. The trigger mechanism is pre-configured with the cable and firing pins in position. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex on-site assembly and ensures the system is ready for immediate use, simplifying installation while maintaining safety effectiveness.
3Reliability
If fall protection systems are provided, then worker safety is improved, but worker movement freedom is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static restraint configuration to a dynamic arrest mechanism. During normal work, the trigger cable remains slack, allowing the worker free movement without restriction. When a fall occurs, the cable becomes taut and automatically triggers anchor deployment. This dynamic behavior maintains worker mobility while ensuring safety activation only when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger cable acts as an intermediary element between the worker's harness and the anchor deployment mechanism. It transmits the force of a fall to activate the firing pins without continuously constraining the worker. This intermediary mechanism allows free movement during normal operation while enabling automatic safety activation during falls.
4Reliability
If fall protection systems are provided, then worker safety is improved, but work surface damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system concentrates anchoring forces at specific localized points where firing blocks are mounted, rather than distributing loads across large surface areas. The mounting frame and firing blocks are designed to anchor at discrete locations, minimizing the affected area on the work surface. This localized anchoring reduces overall surface damage while maintaining effective fall arrest capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple firing blocks with identical cylinder and anchor configurations are distributed across the mounting frame. This replication of standardized components allows for consistent, predictable anchoring behavior at each location, reducing variability in surface impact and enabling optimized anchor placement that minimizes damage to the work surface while maintaining safety effectiveness.
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 system provides a user-friendly, portable, and effective fall arrest solution that reduces the risk of fatal falls by automatically deploying anchors upon a fall, while being designed to prevent accidental deployment and minimize damage to the work surface.
Implementation Method 1
Firing springs extend through upper block cylinders in the upper block
Data Source
AI summary
The present system for fall restraint includes a mounting frame connected to a trigger mechanism and firing blocks, with a trigger cable extending through apertures in the mounting frame and trigger mechanism. Sudden movement by a user, such as a fall, actuates the trigger mechanism to trigger the firing blocks. The firing blocks are loaded with anchors and firing cartridges. Triggering the firing blocks causes the cartridges to fire, propelling the anchors into an anchoring surface, such as a roof. Because the user is connected to the trigger cable, once the anchors deploy the user is anchored to the roof and their fall arrested.