Hose-Actuated Lubricant Tool for Power Line Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for applying lubricant to power line hoses require two individuals, one to hold the spray can and another to unfold the hose, making the process inefficient and potentially dangerous if a defective hose is used.
Innovation Solution
A tool that secures a lubricant canister with clamps and a hingedly-attached, spring-mounted trigger plate, allowing the hose to be dragged across the trigger plate to release lubricant onto the hose, eliminating the need for manual application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual spray can application is used, then lubricant can be applied to the hose, but two individuals are required and the process is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The hose itself activates the lubricant application by dragging across the trigger plate, eliminating the need for manual trigger operation and reducing the required operators from two to one
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger plate acts as an intermediary mechanism that converts the mechanical motion of the hose into the activation of the spray valve, automating the lubricant release process
2Reliability
If manual application is used, then lubricant can be applied, but safety risk increases due to potential hose defects
Solution Approach 1:
The hose self-activates the lubricant application by its own motion across the trigger plate, eliminating direct manual contact with potentially defective hose sections and reducing safety risks
Solution Approach 2:
The lubricant is applied automatically as the hose passes through the device, ensuring protection before defects can cause damage without requiring manual intervention
3Productivity
If spray can is held manually, then lubricant application is possible, but the process requires coordination between two individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The hose drag motion automatically triggers the spray mechanism, eliminating the need for coordinated manual operation between two individuals and simplifying the process to a single operator
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical action of holding and triggering the spray can is replaced by a mechanical linkage system activated by the hose itself, automating the coordination between lubricant release and hose positioning
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
Enables efficient and safe application of lubricant to the power line hose, reducing the risk of hose damage and allowing single-person operation, thus improving safety and efficiency in power line work.
Implementation Method 1
a hingedly-attached and also spring-mounted trigger plate
Data Source
AI summary
A hose lubricating tool for power line hoses. A backboard has a support plate mounted on the front surface. The backboard has a lip portion below the support plate integral with the bottom half. A hinge is mounted to the front surface and attached thereto is a finger base, the finger base mounted to the hinge on the front surface. An indentation is defined within the finger base underneath the front edge. A finger portion is mounted to the finger base, the finger portion extending out over a finger front edge of the finger base to define a finger tip, the finger tip and finger portion sized to be received within a groove of a power line hose. Upon the power line hose being forced along the finger tip, the finger base is urged downward to engage the trigger and release the lubricant.