Grate Lifter Hook and Tab Design for Close-Mesh Panel Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grating assemblies with close-mesh grating panels are difficult to move for maintenance due to their close spacing, requiring multiple tools and limited access, making operations cumbersome and unsafe.
Innovation Solution
A grate lifter with hook members and adjustable tabs that engage with grating assembly components, allowing for easy lifting and retraction using a single monolithic member, facilitated by a hoist or installation tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If close-mesh grating panels and close spacing grating surface bars are used to prevent wheel and foot traffic hazards, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in gripping and moving the grating assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a grate lifter as an intermediary tool that bridges the gap between the operator and the close-mesh grating assembly. The lifter includes engagement members that insert into the tight spaces between grating bars and cross members, providing a mechanical interface that allows operators to grip and move the assembly without directly contacting the close-spaced bars. This mediator tool solves the contradiction by enabling easy operation while preserving the safe close-mesh design.
Solution Approach 2:
The grate lifter is divided into multiple functional segments: engagement members for gripping grating components, a body structure for force transmission, and release mechanisms for controlled detachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, with engagement members targeting specific grating elements (surface bars or cross members) to overcome the close-spacing issue without compromising the overall safety design.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate tools are used to grab and lift the grating assembly, then lifting capability is improved, but device complexity increases and requires multiple tools on hand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple previously separate tools into a single integrated grate lifter. The device combines engagement members for gripping, a body for structural support and force application, and release mechanisms all in one tool. This consolidation eliminates the need for operators to carry and coordinate multiple separate tools, reducing device complexity while maintaining comprehensive lifting capability. The unified design allows the tool to perform both gripping and lifting functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The grate lifter is designed as a universal tool that can engage with different grating assembly configurations. The engagement members can target either surface bars or cross members depending on the grating design, making the single tool adaptable to various grating types. This multi-functionality replaces the need for specialized tools for different grating configurations, simplifying the toolset required while maintaining broad operational capability.
3Force
If leverage is applied from various angles by pressing and pushing on the grating assembly, then lifting force is improved, but access is limited by the implementation of the grating assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The grate lifter introduces a new dimensional approach by applying force from below the grating assembly rather than from the top or sides. The engagement members insert into the space between the grating and the supporting structure, allowing force application in a vertical dimension that bypasses the limited lateral access problems. This dimensional shift enables effective force application even when operator access from traditional angles is restricted by the grating implementation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If close spacing of grating members is used to prevent hazards, then safety is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to difficulty in moving grating assemblies for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The grate lifter incorporates self-adjusting engagement members that automatically adapt to the specific spacing and configuration of the grating assembly being serviced. The engagement members can flex and position themselves within the close spaces between grating members without requiring precise manual alignment. This self-service capability eliminates time-consuming manual adjustment during maintenance operations, significantly improving productivity while preserving the safe close-mesh design that would otherwise be difficult to service.
Data Source
AI summary
Grate lifters for moving grating assemblies relative to supporting structures within which the grating assemblies are installed. A grate lifter may include a main body having a first end and a second end longitudinally opposite to the first end. A grate lifter may also include at least one hook member operably engaged with the main body at the first end and configured to engage one of at least one surface bar of a grating assembly and at least one cross member of the grating assembly. A grate lifter may also include at least one tab operably engaged with the main body at the second end and configured to engage at least one lock bar of the grating assembly. The at least one tab may be configured to be adjustable from an initial position to a bent position to engage the at least one lock bar of the grating assembly.