Hinged Manhole Cover with Segmented Slats for Fall Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manhole covers do not adequately prevent users from falling into open manholes, posing a risk of injury during maintenance activities like cleaning underground utility vaults.
Innovation Solution
A manhole cover design featuring a frame surrounding the edges, parallel slats, perpendicular lateral bracings, and a hinged access portion in the center, which reduces the exposed area and minimizes the risk of falls by limiting the access opening to one square foot or less.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional solid manhole cover is used, then the cover is simple and easy to manufacture, but it does not provide adequate safety for users during maintenance activities
Solution Approach 1:
The manhole cover is divided into a solid frame and multiple parallel slats connected by lateral bracings, creating a segmented structure that maintains structural integrity while reducing the solid coverage area to minimize fall risks during maintenance activities
Solution Approach 2:
A hinged access portion is incorporated into the cover structure, allowing it to be dynamically opened and closed. This hinged portion provides controlled access when needed while automatically closing to maintain safety, combining operational flexibility with safety requirements
2Reliability
If the exposed area is reduced to minimize fall risk, then safety is improved, but access for maintenance tasks may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hinged access portion enables dynamic operation, allowing the cover to be opened wide for maintenance access and then closed to minimize exposed area. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by providing both safety when closed and accessibility when opened
Solution Approach 2:
The hinged portion is pre-positioned to allow easy opening action before maintenance is needed, enabling workers to quickly access the manhole when required while maintaining safety coverage during normal conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A manhole cover including: a frame located at the edges of the manhole cover which completely surrounds the manhole cover; a plurality of slats that are spaced apart and parallel to each other; a plurality of lateral bracings that are spaced apart and parallel to each other, wherein the lateral bracings are perpendicular to the slats; and a hinged access portion located in the center of the manhole cover that is connected to a main portion of the manhole cover by a hinge, and all edges of the hinged access portion are spaced away from the frame.