Rebar Safety Line Anchor With Rib-Locking Tubular Clamp
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fall protection devices for construction workers on concrete structures with embedded reinforcing bars are inadequate, lacking a simple and effective means to create a fixed anchor point for safety lines.
Innovation Solution
A tubular device with grooves designed to fit snugly over reinforcing bars, featuring hinged portions and grooves to secure the device in place, allowing attachment of safety lines, and remaining embedded in concrete after use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fall protection device is designed to attach to reinforcing bars, then worker safety is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for secure attachment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular body is divided into multiple separate portions that can be independently assembled around the reinforcing bar. This segmentation allows the device to securely attach to the bar while keeping each component simple and manageable, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular body portions are designed to nest around the reinforcing bar, with each portion fitting within or alongside the others. This nesting approach provides a compact, secure attachment mechanism that minimizes complexity while ensuring reliable worker protection.
2Ease of operation
If the tubular body is made from multiple separate portions, then ease of assembly is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular body is divided into multiple separate portions that can be independently assembled around the reinforcing bar. This segmentation allows the device to securely attach to the bar while keeping each component simple and manageable, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The separate portions are designed to be movable relative to one another during assembly, allowing for easy positioning and securing. This dynamic design enables simple assembly operations while maintaining structural integrity, balancing ease of assembly with minimal complexity.
3Reliability
If grooves are defined at the interior cavity to matably receive ribs, then anchoring reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The grooves are strategically positioned and shaped to mate specifically with the ribs on the reinforcing bar. This local quality approach ensures that the critical attachment points have precise geometries for reliable engagement, while other parts of the device can be manufactured with standard tolerances, balancing anchoring reliability with manufacturing feasibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for attaching to exposed ribbed reinforcing bar at a construction site to form an anchor for a safety line comprises a tubular body defining a substantially cylindrical interior cavity diametrically sized and shaped in a manner substantially corresponding to a length of the reinforcing bar so that the interior cavity can be snugly received over the length of the reinforcing bar. The device includes an attachment location defined on the tubular body for connecting the safety line and features a plurality of grooves defined at the interior cavity and arranged to matably receive ribs of the reinforcing bar so as to secure the device in fixed location along the reinforcing bar. During construction of a structure, the device is used to support a worker against falling and thereafter may be left attached to the reinforcing bar and subsequently a remainder of the structure may be cast in concrete.