Modular Fall Protection Guardrails with External Link Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fall protection equipment for construction roofs is cumbersome and time-consuming to install and deactivate, posing safety risks during module superposition and requiring operators to climb onto roofs for handling.
Innovation Solution
A modular fall protection system with a flexible link system that allows operators to activate or deactivate the equipment from outside the construction perimeter, using a link that extends outside the perimeter to control the guardrails, enabling secure and simple operation without climbing onto the roof.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If removable guardrail equipment is used for fall protection, then the equipment can be installed and removed from the roof, but the transportation and installation operations become tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fall protection equipment is divided into modular components (guardrails, links, coupling elements) that can be independently handled and assembled. The guardrails are segmented into sections connected by links, allowing for easier transportation and installation compared to a monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The guardrails are designed to be movable between an extended protective position and a retracted storage position. The dynamic mechanism allows the guardrails to be quickly deployed and stored without complex installation procedures, reducing the time and effort required for setup and teardown operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If removable guardrail equipment is used, then the equipment can be taken off the roof, but there is no assurance that the equipment is actually installed and used on the roof
Solution Approach 1:
Links serve as intermediary elements that connect the guardrails to each other and to the roof structure. These links act as verification mechanisms because they must be properly engaged and secured for the system to function, providing visible and tangible evidence that the protective equipment is correctly installed and in use.
3Stability of the object's composition
If hinged and hinged guardrails are used, then the guardrails can be folded, but the handling becomes tedious and complicated especially during module superposition
Solution Approach 1:
The guardrail system is segmented into modular sections connected by simple links rather than complex hinged mechanisms. Each section can be independently positioned and secured, simplifying the folding and unfolding operations during module superposition and reducing handling complexity.
4Ease of operation
If operators climb onto the roof to fold down fall protection equipment, then the equipment can be deactivated, but the operator finds themselves in an unsecured working position
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring operators to climb onto the roof to deactivate the guardrails, the system is inverted so that the control mechanism is accessible from ground level. The links extend through or alongside the module structure, allowing operators to fold down the protective equipment from a safe, unexposed position.
Solution Approach 2:
The links serve as intermediary control elements that transmit the deactivation command from the operator (working safely on the module) to the guardrails (on the roof). This intermediary mechanism allows remote operation of the protective equipment, eliminating the need for operators to expose themselves to fall risks during deactivation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a structure comprising fall protection equipment (3) coupled to the roof, associated with deactivation control means comprising a flexible link system (6) attached to said fall protection equipment (3) and having a grasping portion (40) extending beyond the perimeter of the roof so as to be graspable by a user from outside the structure. The invention also relates to a method for deactivating said fall protection equipment of such a structure.