Pivoting Fall Protection Mast With Shock-Absorbing Strut
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fall protection devices for construction workers on horizontal surfaces are cumbersome to install and require significant space, often necessitating the use of cranes due to their weight and size, limiting operator mobility and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A fall protection device comprising a lightweight mast, arm, and shock-absorbing strut with sliding articulation and releasable joining means, allowing for easy installation and operation without the need for cranes, with components made of aluminum alloy for reduced weight and improved maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fall protection devices are used, then fall protection is provided, but the devices are heavy and require cranes for installation
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate components: an anchoring element that remains fixed in the concrete, and a mast assembly that can be detached and relocated. This segmentation allows the heavy components to be distributed and installed in stages without requiring crane lifting of the entire assembly at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The mast is designed with articulation joints that allow it to transition between different positions and configurations. The mast can be articulated to a horizontal position during installation and then rotated to a vertical operating position, enabling workers to manipulate the device without crane assistance while maintaining structural integrity for fall protection.
2Reliability
If traditional fall protection devices are used, then fall protection is provided, but the devices require significant installation space and time
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring element is installed and secured in the concrete structure before the mast assembly is attached. This preliminary action creates a fixed reference point that simplifies subsequent mast installation and positioning, reducing the time and space required for the complete device installation.
Solution Approach 2:
By separating the anchoring element from the mast assembly, the installation process is divided into independent stages. The anchoring element can be installed independently using minimal space, and the mast assembly can be attached later without requiring the entire device to be positioned simultaneously, thereby reducing installation time and space requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the mast is articulated to a horizontal position, then the device can be manipulated easily, but the shock-absorbing strut must accommodate this position change
Solution Approach 1:
The shock-absorbing strut is designed as a telescopic mechanism with multiple extendable segments that can dynamically adjust their length. When the mast is articulated to a horizontal position for manipulation, the strut extends to maintain proper geometric relationships and provide stabilization. When the mast is in the vertical operating position, the strut contracts to a compact configuration. This dynamic adjustment allows easy manipulation while maintaining structural stability throughout the range of motion.
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
Enables workers to easily mount and use the device independently, providing effective fall protection with enhanced mobility and reduced space requirements, as the device can be easily transitioned between operating and storage positions.
Implementation Method 1
a shock-absorbing strut to cushion the pivotal movement of the arm towards the mast caused by a downward traction force occasionally applied at an area of the end of the arm by the fastening and attachment means for the user
Data Source
AI summary
A fall protection device for a user working on horizontal surfaces in construction sites, which can adopt two end positions: an operating protection position and a non-operating storage position. The device has a mast releasably couplable at the lower end to a fixed element of the construction with the possibility of pivoting on its own vertical shaft; an arm at a first end of an articulated joint articulated with the end of the upper portion of the mast, the second end thereof being free and the arm configured to receive in an area of the second end the coupling of fastening and attachment for the user; a strut with a first end articulately joined to the arm and with a second end to be fastened on a point of the upper portion of the mast under the end of the upper portion where the mast is articulated with the arm.