Ladder Access Locking Cover With Low-Friction Deformation Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current height access devices suffer from deformation due to user weight or assembly faults, causing stress on the locking mechanism and impairing safety, which is often compensated by large operational gaps that compromise the device's functionality.
Innovation Solution
A cover is integrated with a ladder, hinged to pivot between prohibiting and enabling positions, and received between contact elements that absorb forces to prevent deformation, limiting friction and stiffening the ladder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large gaps are left between the locking device and the ladder to avoid stresses from deformation, then the reliability of the locking device is improved, but the operational clearance increases which impairs the operation of the locking device
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is segmented into a fixed part (panel) and a movable part (cover), where the cover can independently move to compensate for deformation while the panel remains stable. This allows the fixed panel to maintain reliable locking while the movable cover ensures smooth operation despite gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the locking device have different properties: the panel is designed to be rigid and stable for reliable locking, while the cover is designed to be movable and flexible to accommodate gaps and deformation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
2Strength
If the ladder structure is made rigid to prevent deformation, then the strength of the ladder is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deformation compensation function is extracted from the ladder structure itself and transferred to the cover component. This allows the ladder to remain simple while the cover handles the complexity of accommodating deformation, resolving the contradiction between strength and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is designed as a dynamic component that can move to compensate for deformation, while the ladder structure remains static and simple. This dynamic element handles the complexity of deformation compensation without requiring the entire ladder structure to be complex or overly rigid.
Data Source
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AI summary
A height access device comprising a ladder (1) having two uprights (3, 4) between which rungs (2) extend, and an access locking device comprising a cover (14) hinged on the ladder (1) to pivot about a horizontal axis between a prohibition position in which the cover (14) protrudes from a front face of the ladder (1) between the uprights (3, 4) and two adjacent rungs (2) of the ladder (1) and prevents a user from accessing the upper rungs (2) of the ladder (1) above the cover (14) and an authorization position in which the cover (14) is retracted from the front face of the ladder (1) and allows the use of the upper rungs (2) of the ladder (1),characterized in that the operculum (14) is received between two contact elements (200) integral with the ladder and positioned to bear against sides (201) of the operculum (14) regardless of the position of the operculum (14), which is arranged to absorb forces transmitted by the contact elements, the contact elements (200) and the sides (201) of the operculum (14) being arranged to cooperate with each other so as to limit friction during a displacement of the operculum (14) between its two positions when the contact elements (200) are bearing against the sides (201) of the operculum (14).