Rotatable Terminal Block Lockout Device for Worker Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lockout devices for terminal blocks do not effectively prevent accidental reconnection of terminals during maintenance procedures, posing a risk to worker safety due to potential hazardous energy sources.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable lockout device with paired sections that can be inserted into a terminal block to prevent connection by aligning and misaligning portions, ensuring secure locking and preventing removal until a lock is applied, utilizing a hinge rod and snap-fitting mechanism for secure coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional lockout device is used, then the terminal block can be locked, but the device cannot effectively prevent accidental reconnection of terminals during maintenance procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The lockout device is divided into two separate sections that can be inserted independently into the terminal block. Each section has a lower portion for insertion and an upper portion with a lockout opening. The sections are rotatably coupled and can be positioned in different orientations, allowing them to block terminal reconnection from multiple directions and providing more reliable prevention against accidental reconnection.
2Ease of operation
If the lockout device allows easy insertion and removal, then ease of operation is improved, but the device may be accidentally removed during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The lockout device incorporates a rotatable mechanism where the two sections can be rotated relative to each other between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the sections are oriented to prevent removal; in the unlocked position, they can be easily removed. This dynamic positioning allows the device to provide security during maintenance while remaining operable when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The device requires preliminary rotation to the locked position before the lockout openings align and can receive a lock. This preliminary action of rotating and aligning the sections ensures that the device is properly secured before maintenance begins, preventing accidental removal during the maintenance procedure.
3Device complexity
If the lockout device uses a simple structure, then device complexity is reduced, but it cannot provide secure locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The lockout device combines multiple functions into a single integrated structure: two rotatably coupled sections provide both the locking mechanism and the prevention mechanism. The hinge rod and hinge-rod cutaway coupling integrates the two sections while allowing relative rotation. The aligned lockout openings in both sections simultaneously receive a single lock, merging the securing function of both sections into one locking action, providing secure locking without excessive complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A lockout device configured to lockout a terminal block. The lockout device includes a pair of sections rotatably coupled to one another in which each of the sections has an upper portion including a corresponding lockout opening and a lower portion for selective reception into the space of an opened terminal block. The sections are rotatable between an opened and closed position. In the opened position, the upper portions are misaligned and the lower portions are aligned to permit at least a portion of the lower portions to be inserted into an opening in an opened terminal block. In the closed position, the lockout openings of the upper portions are aligned to accommodate reception of a lock in the lockout openings to prevent movement away from the closed position and the lower portions are misaligned to prevent removal of the lower portions from the opening in the terminal block.