Hazard Alert Device for Elevated Barrier Gates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gates at elevated surfaces lack a method to alert individuals of potential hazards when open and fail to remind users to promptly close safety barriers, posing serious safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A hazard alert device comprising a barrier sensor and signaling device with a delay mechanism, which detects when the gate is open and activates audible and visual alarms, allowing temporary silencing during use but reinstating alerts if the gate remains open, ensuring continuous hazard awareness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a gate is left open for extended periods to facilitate movement of supplies and equipment, then ease of operation is improved, but safety hazards increase due to exposure to fall risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of gate operationVSAvoidsafety hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the gate position using a barrier sensor and provides real-time feedback through audible and visible alarms when the gate is open, creating a closed-loop safety system that alerts users to the hazard condition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses visual signaling through colored lights (flashing yellow light) to communicate the hazard state of the gate, providing intuitive visual feedback that complements the audible alarm

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Reliability

If continuous audible alarms are activated to warn of open gates, then safety awareness is improved, but noise disturbance and operational disruption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety alert effectivenessVSAvoidnoise disturbance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The audible alarm operates in a periodic pulsing pattern rather than continuously, creating intermittent warnings that maintain safety awareness while reducing overall noise exposure and operational disruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The alarm system dynamically adjusts its behavior by providing different warning patterns (continuous visible alarm vs. intermittent audible alarm) based on the operational context, allowing flexibility between safety and disturbance considerations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of time

If the audible alarm is continuously active to ensure immediate warning, then response time is improved, but energy consumption and operational disruption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The audible alarm uses periodic pulsing rather than continuous operation, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective warning through rhythmic intervals that keep the hazard visible in the operator's awareness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9834975B2Hazard alert device for elevated barrier

Publication Date: 2017.12.05 WILDECK

AI summary

A hazard alert device, which can be battery powered or hard wired, is configured to provide a hazard alert when a gate along an edge of an elevated surface is in the open position. Upon detecting the gate is in the open position, the device produces an audible and visual alert. When the gate, disposed within a portion of the barrier, is opened to allow the movement of people and/or materials to or from the elevated surface, the device includes a snooze mode enabling the audible alarm to be silenced for a period of time. If the gate is inadvertently left in the open position, the audible alert serves as a reminder to close the gate. This device may include first and second sensors with dual channels (output signals) and dual cross-checking processors that continually compare outputs from the sensor channels to identify any defect in the sensor or wiring.