Retractable Catwalk Actuator Safety and Guide Arm

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing catwalks for utility and industrial vehicles lack a safe and efficient design that allows for easy access to elevated positions while minimizing obstacles and ensuring safety during use and storage, particularly when retracting the catwalk does not pose a risk to users.

Innovation Solution

A retractable catwalk system with a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator system and guide arm system that keeps the catwalk in a fail-safe deployed position when occupied, preventing accidental retraction, and retracts to a compact form by pivoting the floor and railing outside the walkway, eliminating obstructions and allowing barrier-free passage between catwalks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the catwalk is designed to be retractable for compact storage and travel, then the vehicle's mobility and storage efficiency are improved, but the risk of accidental retraction while occupied increases safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle mobility and storage efficiencyVSAvoidsafety during use

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The catwalk system uses its own occupied state to trigger the safety mechanism. When a person stands on the catwalk, their weight automatically activates the sensor that prevents retraction, making the system self-protecting without external intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the catwalk's occupied state through sensors and provides feedback to the actuator control system. This real-time feedback loop ensures that retraction is prevented when weight is detected and enabled when the catwalk is clear

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If manual operation with chains is used to control catwalk movement, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation and user safety decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical simplicityVSAvoiduser safety and convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces purely manual mechanical operation with an automated system that uses sensors and electronic control to manage the hydraulic actuator. This substitution maintains the mechanical simplicity of the actuation mechanism while adding intelligent control for safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs a hydraulic actuator with controlled flow valves to provide smooth, controlled movement of the catwalk. The hydraulic system offers precise control over the retraction and extension movements, enhancing safety and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Stability of the object's composition

If the catwalk structure includes protruding components for support and guidance, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of movement between catwalks and barrier-free passage is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidbarrier-free passage

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the support and guidance functions from protruding components into the ground-mounted base structure. The vertical posts are anchored to the ground rather than protruding from the catwalk platform, eliminating obstacles while maintaining structural stability through the ground-based support system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution provides safe and efficient access to elevated positions on vehicles, ensures user safety by preventing catwalk retraction during use, and allows for compact storage and travel without complex controls or locks, minimizing the risk of improper use or damage.

Implementation Method 1

The actuator system may comprise a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder(s) and actuator linkage(s)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

The actuator system may comprise a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder(s) and actuator linkage(s)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressurisation

Data Source

PatentUS10780830B2Mounted retractable catwalk for trucks, utility, construction, and industrial vehicles and equipment

Publication Date: 2020.09.22 ANDERSON & WOOD CONSTR CO INC

AI summary

A catwalk includes a mounting frame or other connection to a side of a vehicle/equipment, a floor, and at least one railing; an actuator system for moving the catwalk enclosure between retracted and deployed positions; and a guide arm for guiding/controlling pivoting of the railing relative to the floor. The actuator system and guide arm are preferably substantially or entirely outside of the catwalk walkway space where a user walks or stands, thereby providing easy access to the walkway at one or both ends and obstacle- and barrier-free passage from one catwalk to another on the same vehicle/equipment. The actuator system prevents the catwalk from collapsing/retracting when a person is on the catwalk, for example, by the lift capacity of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder being controlled/tuned so that the cylinder does not have the capacity/capability to lift and retract the catwalk when the catwalk is occupied.