Roof Ridge Carriage with Adjustable Legs for Fall Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for preventing fall injuries from roofs, such as barriers, tethers, and moveable anchor points, are either time-consuming, expensive, or require modifications to the roof, limiting their applicability and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A fall arrest system comprising a roof ridge carriage with adjustable legs and a tensile member, secured by ground anchors and roof clamps, allows workers to move freely along the roof while maintaining a safe distance from the edge, using a combination of wheels and clamps for stability and adjustability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If barriers or fences are installed around the roof to prevent falls, then fall protection is provided, but installation time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The fall protection system is divided into separate functional components: a movable carriage that travels along the roof ridge, a tensile member (rope/cable) that provides the safety barrier, and ground anchors that secure the system. This segmentation allows the system to be installed quickly without requiring permanent structures, as each component can be independently positioned and adjusted.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces static barriers with a dynamic movable carriage that can be repositioned along the roof ridge as workers move. The carriage maintains continuous fall protection through the tensile member while allowing flexible movement, eliminating the need for fixed installations and reducing setup time.
2Reliability
If tethers or lanyards are used to connect workers to anchor points, then fall protection is provided, but the radius of movement is limited and multiple anchors are required
Solution Approach 1:
The movable carriage serves multiple functions: it acts as a moving anchor point, provides a travel path along the ridge, and maintains tensile member tension through its wheel mechanism. This multi-functionality allows a single carriage to provide fall protection across the entire roof area, eliminating the need for multiple fixed anchor points and maximizing worker movement freedom.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a moveable anchor point is installed along the roof peak, then movement freedom is improved, but roof modification is required which limits applicability
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces ground anchors as an intermediary element that transfers the load from the movable carriage on the roof to the ground below. This mediator allows the carriage to move freely along the roof ridge without requiring permanent modifications to the roof structure itself, as the anchoring system is installed in the ground rather than the roof.
4Reliability
If fixed barriers are installed around the roof, then fall protection is provided, but the system is expensive and time-consuming to install
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a flexible tensile member (rope or cable) instead of rigid barrier structures. This flexible element can be easily deployed and repositioned, requiring minimal installation infrastructure. The thin-film-like nature of the rope allows it to conform to the roof ridge shape without requiring complex support structures, thereby reducing overall system complexity and installation cost.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for supporting at least one article on a roof. The system comprises a central body extending along an axis having a top surface, a pair of legs extending away from the axis of from the central body and a passage extending through the central body parallel to the axis. The method comprises adjusting the angle of the pair of legs to correspond to the slope of the roof and positioning the central body above a ridge with a tensile member passing through a bore therein.