Height Protection Sling Tensioning With Ratchet Preload Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing height protection systems with textile, bending flaps require complex and costly clamping devices with hardened tooth wreaths, which are difficult to handle and ensure consistent preload, especially when dealing with stiff and coated textiles like ropes or belt bands.
Innovation Solution
A device for height protection featuring a clamping device with a movable and reversible joint connection, allowing flexible arrangement and easy handling, along with a snail gear mechanism for precise preload adjustment and a molded connection piece with security features to limit authorized handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional clamping devices with hardened tooth wreaths are used, then reliable tensioning of flexible lifting gear is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of tensioning from the complex hardened tooth wreath mechanism and implements it through a simpler ratchet and pawl system. The ratchet wheel with teeth and corresponding pawl provides reliable one-way tensioning without requiring hardened gear rings, thereby maintaining tensioning reliability while reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive hardened tooth wreaths with more economical ratchet mechanisms that can be manufactured at lower cost. The ratchet and pawl system uses simpler materials and construction methods, reducing manufacturing expenses while maintaining the necessary functional reliability for height safety applications.
2Strength
If coated and reinforced flexible lifting gear is used, then strength and durability are improved, but flexibility decreases and handling becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a ratchet mechanism with movable components that adapt to the stiffness of the lifting gear. The pawl can engage and disengage from the ratchet teeth dynamically, allowing the operator to insert and adjust the lifting gear more easily despite its coated and reinforced construction, thereby improving handling ease while maintaining strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The ratchet and pawl mechanism acts as an intermediary between the operator and the stiff lifting gear. This intermediate mechanism translates small manual movements into effective tensioning, reducing the direct force required to handle and position the coated and reinforced flexible lifting gear.
3Reliability
If higher pre-tension force is applied to stiff lifting gear, then tensioning reliability improves, but required handling force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ratchet mechanism allows preliminary insertion of the lifting gear followed by incremental tensioning. The pawl engages with each ratchet tooth to maintain pre-tension force, allowing the operator to achieve reliable tensioning through multiple small movements rather than requiring a single large force application, thereby reducing peak handling force while maintaining pre-tension reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ratchet mechanism enables periodic engagement and disengagement of the pawl with ratchet teeth during the tensioning process. This periodic action allows the operator to apply force in stages, maintaining pre-tension reliability through cumulative small movements rather than requiring a single large force application.
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 solution provides improved handling and adjustment of preload, simplifies the clamping process, reduces production costs by eliminating the need for hardened tooth wreaths, and enhances security by limiting unauthorized access to the clamping device.
Implementation Method 1
a snail gear mechanism for precise preload adjustment
Implementation Method 2
a friction device, in particular a ratchet device, for the functionally reliable tensioning of the at least one lifting device
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for fall protection and a tensioning device for the same. The fall protection device consists of at least one vertical support element, at least one textile, flexible sling which is arranged on the at least one vertical support element in its functional state, at least one anchor point which is arranged on a body structure in its functional state, or at least one further vertical support element, wherein the at least one textile, flexible sling is arranged on the at least one anchor point or on the at least one further vertical support element in its functional state, and the tensioning device which is operatively connected to the at least one textile, flexible sling in its functional state and serves to tension the at least one flexible sling.wherein the clamping device is movably arranged on the at least one vertical support element and/or the at least one further vertical support element and/or the at least one anchor point.