Pantograph Access Panel for Pit Safety and Variable Length
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety measures for horizontal floor openings, such as pits, are either ineffective when not actively maintained or restrict access when a vehicle is partially covering the opening, leaving exposed sections hazardous and limiting work access.
Innovation Solution
An access panel with a parallel array of pivotably linked members and pantograph units that can vary in length, allowing for a planar structure to be adjusted between minimum, maximum, and intermediate lengths, and is easily mounted over a pit with low friction sliding members to cover exposed sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vertical barrier or timber baulks are used to prevent inadvertent entry into the pit, then safety is improved, but the barrier must be manually deployed and removed each time, requiring continuous human intervention and time
Solution Approach 1:
The access panel is designed to be self-deploying through a spring mechanism that automatically extends the panel to cover the pit opening when the vehicle is removed. The spring-loaded system eliminates the need for manual deployment while maintaining continuous safety coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is pre-charged during installation to store potential energy. When the vehicle is removed from the pit, the pre-loaded spring automatically activates to extend the panel, performing the safety deployment action before any human intervention is needed.
2Reliability
If a fixed barrier is used to cover the entire pit opening, then safety is improved, but access to the pit for work on the vehicle is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The access panel incorporates a telescopic mechanism with multiple extendable sections that can dynamically adjust the panel's length. This allows the panel to extend to cover the entire pit opening for safety, or retract to specific positions to allow access to uncovered sections when a vehicle is partially positioned over the pit.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel is divided into multiple telescopic sections that can extend and retract independently. This segmentation allows flexible configuration where the panel can cover the full opening or partial sections, enabling both complete safety coverage and selective access simultaneously.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the access panel uses a telescopic mechanism with multiple sections, then adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic sections utilize friction-based sliding joints with friction strips instead of complex mechanical locking mechanisms. This approach simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining the ability to extend and retract multiple sections, as the friction strips provide sufficient holding force without requiring additional locks or actuators.
4Ease of operation
If the access panel is designed to be lightweight and easy to handle, then ease of operation is improved, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The access panel employs composite construction with aluminum extrusions for the frame and honeycomb paneling for the surface. This composite structure provides high strength-to-weight ratio, ensuring the panel remains lightweight for easy handling while maintaining sufficient structural strength to safely cover the pit opening and support operational loads.
Data Source
AI summary
An access panel for a horizontal opening, the access panel (11) comprises a parallel array (12) of members (14, 15, 16) and a lateral extent (W) of the array (12) corresponding to a lateral extend (D) of the opening between first (17) and second (18) end members of the array (12) defining a length (L) of the panel (12). At least two pantograph units (20, 21) extend between the first (17) and second (18) end members and each member (14-16, etc.) in the parallel array (12) is pivotably linked to each pantograph unit. The members (14, 15, 16 etc) and units (20, 21) permit the panel (11) to function as a planar structure and enable the length (L) of the panel (11) to be varied between a minimum length (L1) and a maximum length (L2) and an intermediate configuration having a length between the minimum and maximum lengths (L1, L2).