Pivoting Anchor Mast for Stable Mobile Fall Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fall protection systems require significant base mass and structural modifications, making them costly and impractical for mobile use, especially in formwork construction, where stability and mobility are compromised due to the need for core sleeves and increased base size.
Innovation Solution
An anchor mast system with a movable and geometrically guided arm that adjusts from an extended position to an angled safety position upon exceeding a triggering force, shifting the anchor point downward and away from the tilting edge of the standing base, thereby enhancing stability and mobility without additional structural costs or hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the base mass is increased to ensure stability, then the stability of the anchor mast system is improved, but the mobility and practicality of the system deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor mast system employs a dynamic base that can actively adjust its orientation and configuration in response to detected fall forces. The base includes sensors and actuators that enable real-time adaptation, allowing the system to maintain stability with reduced mass by dynamically redistributing forces during a fall event rather than relying solely on static mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters during operation - specifically, the base orientation angle and the extension length of the anchor mast are dynamically adjusted based on detected force magnitudes. This allows the system to optimize its stability characteristics in real-time, achieving adequate stability with less mass than a static system would require.
2Weight of moving object
If the base diameter is increased to reduce base mass, then the base mass is reduced, but the area occupied and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base is designed with dynamic adjustment capabilities, allowing it to change its effective footprint and orientation during operation. This dynamic behavior enables a smaller physical base area to achieve the same stability as a larger static base, as the system can actively optimize its force distribution and contact points with the ground.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the anchor height is increased to improve practicality, then the practicality and protection range are improved, but the stability and base mass requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor mast system dynamically adjusts the effective anchor height and orientation in response to detected forces. When a fall is detected, the system can lower the anchor point or adjust the mast angle to optimize both protection effectiveness and stability, allowing greater practical flexibility without permanently increasing base mass requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the anchor point position and mast configuration parameters based on operational conditions and detected forces, allowing the same physical structure to provide varying heights and protection ranges as needed, eliminating the need for multiple fixed-height systems.
4Stability of the object's composition
If core sleeves are incorporated into the construction structure to ensure stability, then the stability is improved, but the cost and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the stabilization function from the building structure itself and relocates it to the mobile base platform. Rather than requiring core sleeves or structural modifications to the building, all stability functions are contained within the self-contained dynamic base, eliminating the need for architectural modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic base serves multiple functions simultaneously - it provides stability, houses the control system, contains sensors and actuators, and acts as the mounting platform for the anchor mast. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate structural modifications and reduces overall system complexity.
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 system provides sufficient stability with a reduced base mass of 450 kg and a 2.5 m diameter, allowing for mobile and practical use in formwork construction, reducing the risk of rope damage and eliminating the need for pre-positioned core sleeves, while maintaining effective fall protection with a safety factor of 1.25 for horizontal loads up to 6 kN.
Implementation Method 1
a spring assembly (30) is provided in the pivot drive (15), said spring assembly being designed in a similar manner to a spring strut and having a compressed spring (30) which is arranged between two spring plates (40, 41) and is under pretension in the starting position of the pivot drive (15)
Data Source
AI summary
A protective device to prevent persons from falling has a base and an anchor mast system in connection with the base. On a free upper end of the anchor mast system, personal protective equipment (PPE) is fastened at an anchor point. To increase stability, the anchor mast system is provided with a lower standing section and a cantilever section. The standing section and the cantilever section are pivoted by a pivot drive relative to each other and relative to the base such that the anchor point in connection with the PPE is displaced downwards and away from the tilting edge of the base. This reduces the total height of the protective device, and increases the stability in the event of load in the region of the anchor point, while the weight of the protective device, particular also of the base, is reduced.