Lift Basket Fall Protection with Occupancy-Key Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fall protection systems fail to accurately determine the number of occupants in a lift system's passenger basket and ensure that each occupant is properly connected to a safety anchor, leading to potential safety risks due to human error and the use of dummy keys.
Innovation Solution
A fall protection system that includes sensors to detect weight and occupancy, a controller to determine the number of passengers, and safety anchors to ensure each passenger is securely connected, controlling lift operations based on these conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing fall protection systems rely on occupants remembering to connect lanyards or use dummy keys, then the system allows operation, but the reliability of safety verification deteriorates due to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically counts occupants using weight sensors and automatically verifies safety key connections, eliminating the need for occupants to manually track or remember safety procedures. The system serves itself by autonomously determining whether all occupants are properly protected without human intervention in the verification process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual human verification with an automated electronic system that uses weight sensors to detect occupants and electrical contacts to verify safety key connections. This substitution of mechanical/manual processes with automated sensing and control systems eliminates human error while maintaining ease of operation.
2Reliability
If the system automatically verifies occupant safety connections, then the reliability of safety verification improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The weight sensing system serves multiple functions: it counts the number of occupants, verifies their total weight, and triggers the safety verification process. The safety key contacts simultaneously detect key presence and provide electrical connection verification. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each verification task.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors weight changes and safety key connection status, providing real-time feedback to the control system. When weight changes indicate an occupant entry or exit, or when safety key contacts change state, the system automatically updates its verification status and controls lift operation accordingly, creating a closed-loop safety verification system.
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
Ensures that each passenger is safely anchored, preventing unsafe lift operations by automatically verifying the number of connected safety keys and weights, thereby reducing human error and enhancing safety.
Implementation Method 1
In one example, the sensors may include a load cell, a weight detection device, and/or a pressure sensor.
Implementation Method 2
A controller including one or more processors receives data from the sensors. The controller determines a weight value based on the data that corresponds to one or more passengers disposed within the passenger basket.
Implementation Method 3
In one example, the sensors may include a load cell, a weight detection device, and/or a pressure sensor.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method include a fall protection system having safety anchors coupled with a passenger basket of a lift system. Each of the safety anchors may receive a safety key. One or more sensors are operably coupled with the passenger basket or a base of the lift system. A controller including one or more processors receives data from the sensors. The controller determines a weight value based on the data that corresponds to one or more passengers disposed within the passenger basket. The controller determines a number of passengers that are disposed within the passenger basket based in part on the weight value. The controller controls one or more operations of the lift system based at least in part on a comparison between the number of passengers disposed within the passenger basket and a number of safety keys operably coupled with a corresponding safety anchor.