Hydraulic Piston-Cylinder for Safe Bleacher Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Movable bleachers pose a significant risk of injury due to inadequate deployment mechanisms, leading to uncontrolled and unsafe rapid-descent deployments during erection, as they are heavy and difficult to manage, often requiring manual intervention and lacking automatic control to prevent free-fall.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic device with a piston-cylinder combination and weight detection module that automatically regulates the rate of descent, employing a tandem pivoting action to deploy bleachers safely and prevent free-fall by increasing resistance when a free-fall condition is sensed, allowing for semi-automated deployment without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual deployment mechanisms are used for movable bleachers, then the bleachers can be transported and erected, but the deployment process becomes unsafe and prone to uncontrolled rapid-descent free-fall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical deployment mechanisms with an automated hydraulic system. A hydraulic cylinder with piston automatically deploys the bleacher sections through fluid pressure, eliminating the need for manual operation and providing controlled, safe deployment without human intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensors that detect the position and movement of bleacher sections during deployment. This feedback system monitors the deployment process in real-time and adjusts hydraulic pressure accordingly to prevent uncontrolled free-fall and ensure safe, controlled deployment at all times.
2Ease of operation
If heavy bleacher sections are deployed manually, then the bleachers can be erected, but injuries occur due to the weight and difficulty of management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual handling of heavy bleacher sections with an automated hydraulic deployment system. The hydraulic cylinder lifts and positions the heavy sections automatically, eliminating the need for personnel to physically handle the weight, thereby preventing injuries while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployment system is designed to be self-operating through hydraulic automation. The system independently manages the heavy bleacher sections without requiring human physical intervention, making the handling process both easy and safe by eliminating the harmful factor of manual weight management.
3Productivity
If rapid-descent deployment is allowed, then the bleacher system can be erected quickly, but uncontrolled free-fall occurs causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses position sensors and control systems that continuously monitor the deployment process. When rapid descent is detected or anticipated, the feedback system automatically adjusts hydraulic pressure to maintain controlled descent speeds, preventing uncontrolled free-fall while still enabling efficient deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic deployment system dynamically adjusts its operation during the deployment process. The system can vary deployment speed based on real-time conditions, allowing fast deployment when safe and controlled slowing when approaching final positions or detecting potential free-fall conditions, thus balancing productivity and reliability.
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 ensures safe and controlled deployment of bleachers, reducing the risk of injury by automatically adjusting the rate of descent and preventing free-fall, thus enhancing safety and ease of use during setup.
Implementation Method 1
The hydraulic device is configured with a piston-cylinder combination including a cylinder and a piston reciprocating within the cylinder in response to the application of hydraulic fluid
Implementation Method 2
a weight detection module configured to detect a load applied by the bleacher system
Data Source
AI summary
A control system guides and supports the deployment of a folded, collapsed bleacher system. The control system includes a hydraulic device implemented as a piston-cylinder combination anchored at one end to the trailer frame carrying the stowed bleacher and anchored at another end to an undercarriage support member of the bleacher. The movement of the piston exerts a tandem pivoting action on the front and rear bleacher sections, which deploys and opens the bleacher system to a level, seating-ready configuration. A weight detection module senses the approach of a free-fall condition of the bleacher system during deployment and increases the applied resistance of the piston-cylinder combination, controlling the rate of descent of the bleacher system to avoid free-fall.