Inflatable Fall Protection Pad with Roller Array
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In manufacturing and maintenance environments, personnel working at heights on partially assembled or disassembled structures face fall hazards due to the absence of floors, walls, and railings, necessitating effective fall protection solutions that can also facilitate mobility and braking functions.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable fall protection pad with a deformable body and a set of roller units arranged in a multi-dimensional array on its base wall, allowing the pad to be rolled over the ground surface and providing a braking function by increasing contact with the ground surface under load, thereby stabilizing the pad.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inflatable fall protection pad is designed to be large and robust for effective fall arrest, then the fall protection capability is improved, but the mobility and ease of moving the pad deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pad incorporates rollers mounted on the base wall that can rotate to enable movement. When the pad needs to be moved, the rollers rotate along the ground surface, transforming the pad from a stationary heavy object to a mobile one. This dynamic element resolves the contradiction between the pad's large size for fall protection and its need for mobility.
2Ease of operation
If the inflatable fall protection pad is designed to be lightweight and portable, then the ease of moving the pad is improved, but the fall protection capability and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable structure allows the pad to be deflated for easy transport and inflated for use. When deflated, the pad becomes compact and easy to move; when inflated, it expands to provide sufficient fall protection capability. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction between portability and reliability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the base wall is designed to have large contact area with the ground for stability, then the braking function is improved, but the ease of moving the pad deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rollers mounted on the base wall enable the pad to be moved easily by reducing friction with the ground. When movement is needed, the rollers rotate, allowing the pad to slide smoothly. When braking is needed, the rollers can be stopped, and the large base wall area provides friction-based braking. This dynamic switching between rolling and stationary states resolves the contradiction between stability and ease of moving.
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 inflatable fall protection pad effectively arrests falls and supports personnel while enabling mobility and stabilization through its deformable design and roller system, enhancing safety in hazardous environments.
Implementation Method 1
The set of roller units enables the pad to be rolled over a ground surface
Implementation Method 2
application of a load to the upper wall deforms the base wall to increase contact with the ground surface, thereby providing a braking function
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An inflatable fall protection pad comprises a deformable body defining an inflatable three-dimensional volume. The deformable body has a base wall, an upper wall, and sidewalls spanning the base wall and the upper wall. The inflatable fall protection pad further comprises a set of roller units mounted to the base wall along an exterior-facing surface of the base wall. The set of roller units is arranged in a multi-dimensional array. Tw or more roller units of the set are spaced apart from each other in a first dimension of the multi-dimensional array. Two or more roller units of the set are spaced apart from each other in a second dimension of the multi-dimensional array that is orthogonal to the first dimension.