Lifeline Slider with Continuous Lanyard Path
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current lifeline systems for fall protection require users to unhook and reattach when moving between sides of the cable or when installing new cable supports, which is time-consuming and dangerous, and they struggle with cable deformation and blockages due to non-linear cable paths.
Innovation Solution
A slider system with a closed and extended lanyard attachment path between the two lateral sides of the slider, allowing the lanyard to pass from one side to the other without disassembly, and cable supports with lateral cable introduction openings that allow cable installation without releasing ends, along with a rigid, curved guide sleeve for bending the cable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lanyard attachment path is open and requires unhooking to change sides, then the slider structure is simple, but the user must unhook and reattach when moving between sides which is time-consuming and dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the two separate lanyard attachment points into a single continuous closed path that allows the lanyard to traverse from one side to the other without unhooking. This combines the functionality of two separate attachment mechanisms into one integrated system, resolving the contradiction by enabling continuous operation while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dynamic blocking mechanism that can be moved to different positions along the closed path to control lanyard movement. This dynamic element allows the system to adapt between locked and unlocked states, enabling the user to securely attach on one side and then smoothly transition to the other side without unhooking, thus improving ease of operation while managing structural complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If cable supports require axial cable insertion, then the support structure is simple, but installing new supports requires releasing cable ends which is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cable support structure into modular components: a reusable support body and replaceable cable retention elements. This segmentation allows the cable retention mechanism to be independently replaced without affecting the support structure or requiring cable end releases, thus improving installation ease while managing overall system complexity through standardized modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary cable retention mechanism that mediates between the cable and the support structure. This intermediary component provides a lateral access point for cable installation, allowing cables to be secured without axial insertion or releasing cable ends. The mediator handles the complex interaction between cable and support, simplifying the overall installation process while managing structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lifeline cable is kept straight and taut, then the cable structure is simple, but it cannot follow non-linear frame shapes or create bends without blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the cable path by introducing curved guide elements and bent cable sections that allow the lifeline to follow non-linear frame shapes. These curved components replace straight cable segments, enabling the system to adapt to complex spatial configurations while maintaining smooth cable flow and preventing blockages at bend points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces guide sleeves and cable management components as intermediaries that mediate between the straight cable and the non-linear frame path. These intermediary elements create smooth transitions and controlled bends, allowing the cable to follow complex routes without creating sharp angles or blockages, thus improving adaptability while managing the complexity through standardized guide components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If cable supports are installed frequently, then the lifeline system is adaptable, but the time and complexity of installation and removal accumulate significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cable support system into independently replaceable components, allowing rapid installation and removal of cable retention elements without affecting the support structure or requiring cable end releases. This segmentation enables frequent reconfiguration while minimizing the time and complexity of each installation cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary preparation of cable retention components that are pre-assembled and ready for quick installation. The modular design allows supports to be pre-configured off-site or in advance, reducing on-site assembly time and complexity when frequent installations are required, thus improving adaptability while minimizing time loss.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The system has an elongated slide comprising a path to allow of lanyard fixation to pass from a lateral side or another lateral side of the slide without disassembling and reassembling the lanyard fixation and without disassembling the slide from a cable. The path extends between the lateral sides of the slide, and the lanyard fixation slides in the slide. A removable blocking unit (8) is placed along the path so as to block the fixation in corresponding end of the path from the former or the latter lateral side. A guiding sleeve bends a cable at inflexion of a cable path of lifeline.