Roller Access Hole Protector for Aircraft Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Workers face pain and difficulty when navigating through small, sharp-edged access holes in aircraft manufacturing due to the sharp edges, which can also damage clothing and protective equipment, and existing foam solutions are inadequate.
Innovation Solution
A device with a housing and rollers is positioned on the edge of the access hole, providing a supportive surface and rollers for easy passage, dispersing weight and preventing snagging, made from materials like polyether ether ketone and high-density foam.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If workers climb through sharp-edged access holes directly, then the task can be completed, but workers experience pain and equipment gets damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a device with foam rollers as an intermediary between the worker and the sharp edge of the access hole. The foam material acts as a mediator that absorbs the harmful sharp edge while providing a smooth rolling surface for the worker to pass through, thereby eliminating both the pain/damage issue and maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the access hole edge by introducing a foam cushioning layer. This transforms the sharp, hard edge into a soft, compliant surface that can deform under load, distributing pressure and eliminating the harmful concentrated stress that causes pain and damage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If foam is placed around the access hole edge, then workers are protected from sharp edges, but the foam gets knocked off and does not assist entry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static foam strip into a dynamic rolling mechanism. The foam is mounted on rollers that rotate as the worker passes through, allowing the foam to continuously present a fresh, intact surface rather than being compressed and degraded in place. This dynamic action prevents the foam from being knocked off while maintaining its protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The rolling mechanism is self-propelled by the worker's movement itself. As the worker pushes through the access hole, their body weight and motion naturally rotate the rollers, eliminating the need for external power sources or manual operation. The system serves itself through the very action it is designed to facilitate.
3Ease of operation
If a device with rollers is used to assist entry, then ease of passage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the protective mechanism into discrete modular rollers rather than a continuous foam structure. Each roller is an independent unit that can be manufactured, assembled, and replaced individually. This segmentation simplifies the overall device architecture while providing the rolling assistance function, as each simple roller unit contributes to the overall ease of passage.
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 device protects workers and the aircraft by eliminating sharp edges, making navigation easier and safer, while also being adaptable for various opening shapes and sizes through additive manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
a first roller rotatably coupled to the first end of the housing via a first pin, and a second roller rotatably coupled to the second end of the housing via a second pin
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a device to assist in confined space entry. The device includes a housing including a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, a first end positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a second end opposite the first end and positioned between the top surface and the bottom surface. The device also includes a channel in the housing extending from the bottom surface in a direction towards the top surface, wherein the channel is between the first end and the second end. The device also includes a first roller rotatably coupled to the first end of the housing via a first pin, and a second roller rotatably coupled to the second end of the housing via a second pin.