Rope Clamp Cable Guide for Fall Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fall protection systems with guide ropes are not adaptable to the grid dimension of steel structures, requiring additional adjustments and potential cutting of guide cables to fit between anchors, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A rope clamp with one clamping jaw featuring a cable guide for excess rope, allowing the guide rope to be adjusted and absorbed in a loop, eliminating the need for cutting and ensuring secure anchoring without safety restrictions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the guide rope is cut to the appropriate length to match anchor spacing, then the connection precision is improved, but additional adjustment work and time are required on site

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection precisionVSAvoidadjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The connection device allows the guide rope length to be dynamically adjusted on site by moving the rope clamp along the rope and re-clamping at different positions, eliminating the need for pre-cutting and reducing adjustment time while maintaining precise adaptation to anchor spacing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the guide rope is made longer to accommodate varying anchor distances, then the adaptability is improved, but the excess rope interferes and creates safety concerns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to anchor spacingVSAvoidinterference from excess rope
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The excess rope is extracted from the functional area by routing it through a cable guide that leads it away from the anchor connection zone, eliminating interference and safety concerns while preserving the ability to adapt to different anchor spacings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A cable guide acts as an intermediary element that receives and directs the excess rope to a safe location, preventing it from interfering with the fall protection system while maintaining adaptability to various anchor distances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a rope clamp is used to adjust the effective guide length, then the adaptability to anchor spacing is improved, but the excess rope protruding from the clamp creates handling difficulties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustable guide lengthVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cable guide serves as an intermediary that captures and directs the protruding excess rope away from the rope clamp, eliminating handling difficulties while preserving the adjustable guide length capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2476463B8Fall protection
Publication Date: 2014.06.04 INNOTECH HLDG

AI summary

A fall arrest system with a guide rope (1) for personal protective equipment is described. The guide rope is attached to at least one anchor (2) for external support via a connection device (18) on at least one side. This connection device comprises a rope clamp (19) with two clamping jaws (20, 21) that grip the guide rope (1) between them. To ensure advantageous installation conditions, it is proposed that one of the two clamping jaws (20, 21) has a rope guide (23) on its outer side facing away from the other clamping jaw (20). This guide guide has a holder (25) for the rope extension (24) that projects beyond the rope clamp (19), is bent into a loop, and engages in the rope guide (23).