Transportable Lift System for Skylight Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of heavy roofing materials and skylights on building roofs poses challenges such as fall risk for installers, increased labor difficulty due to varying roof pitches, and the cumbersome process of lifting and placing skylights through openings.
Innovation Solution
A transportable lift system with adjustable supports and a line pay-out device, allowing for secure mounting on a structure's surface, adjustable line length, and a material capture assembly to lift and place materials safely and efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If installers manually lift and move skylights to the roof opening, then installation can be completed, but fall risk and labor difficulty increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lift system as an intermediary device between the ground and the roof. The lift system includes a mount on the roof, a support structure with a line pay-out device, and a capture assembly that interfaces with the skylight. This intermediary mechanism transfers the heavy skylight from ground level to the roof opening without requiring installers to manually carry or lift the load, thereby eliminating fall risk while completing the installation task
Solution Approach 2:
The lift system is divided into separate functional components: a mount that secures to the roof surface, an adjustable support structure with telescoping members, a line pay-out device for controlled line length adjustment, and a capture assembly that attaches to the skylight. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and enables the system to be configured for different skylight sizes and roof conditions
2Productivity
If installers manually handle heavy skylights, then installation proceeds, but labor intensity and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lift system serves as a mechanical intermediary that performs the heavy lifting operation. The support structure with adjustable length members and the line pay-out device mechanically raise the skylight from ground to roof level, converting a high-labor manual operation into a controlled mechanical process that reduces physical strain while maintaining installation productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure incorporates telescoping members with adjustable length, allowing the lift system to adapt to varying roof heights and skylight positions. The line pay-out device dynamically adjusts the line length during the lifting operation, enabling smooth and controlled movement of the skylight throughout the raising process
3Ease of manufacture
If skylights are manually lifted through openings, then installation is completed, but risk of damage to skylights and building increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capture assembly acts as an intermediary interface between the lift system and the skylight. It provides secure attachment points that distribute loads evenly across the skylight structure, preventing localized stress concentrations that could cause breakage. The controlled lifting mechanism ensures smooth movement through the roof opening without sudden drops or impacts that could damage either the skylight or the building structure
4Device complexity
If fixed-length supports are used in lift system, then structure is simpler, but adaptability to different roof pitches and openings is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure employs telescoping members with adjustable length, transforming a static fixed-length support into a dynamic adjustable support. This allows the lift system to accommodate varying roof pitches, different opening sizes, and various skylight dimensions. The adjustment mechanism maintains structural integrity while providing the versatility needed for different installation scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is segmented into multiple telescoping members that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows fine-tuning of the support length to match specific installation requirements while maintaining overall structural coherence. Each segment can be adjusted to compensate for variations in roof pitch and opening position
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 lift system reduces installation labor, minimizes fall risks for installers, and decreases the risk of damage to skylights and buildings by enabling safe and efficient lifting and placement of heavy roofing materials and skylights.
Implementation Method 1
a second support having a second first end opposite a second second end, the second support second end pivotally coupled to the first support second end
Data Source
AI summary
Generally, a transportable lift system operable to capture and raise materials from a first height to a second height. Specifically, a lift having first and second length adjustable supports having second ends pivotally coupled to allow opposite first ends to be secured to a surface a distance apart to allow a line pay-out device coupled to the first length adjustable support to pay out a line proximate the first length adjustable support second end, whereby materials attached to the line can be raised from a first height to a second height.