Rotatable Vacuum Anchor Assembly to Prevent Lanyard Tangling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum anchor systems in fall protection systems can experience tangling and accidental disconnection issues due to the pressurized gas bottle interfering with the lanyard, leading to potential vacuum loss during worker movement on elevated structures.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum anchor design with a rotatable gas container mounting system, where the gas container is coaxially aligned with the rotational axis of the attachment means, preventing interference and ensuring a constant gas supply connection, and an outlet port arrangement for easy attachment and detachment without additional pipework.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gas container is mounted on the anchor body, then the vacuum source is provided, but the container interferes with the lanyard during worker movement causing tangling and potential disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The gas container is integrated with the attachment means assembly, forming a unified rotatable unit. This merging ensures that the container, mounting mechanism, and attachment means move together as one system, eliminating relative movement that could cause tangling while maintaining vacuum reliability through the sealed gas inlet connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system transforms from a static fixed connection to a dynamic rotatable connection. The attachment means with integrated container mounting can rotate about the anchor body axis, allowing the system to adapt dynamically to worker movement while maintaining secure gas supply connection through the coaxial inlet design.
2Ease of operation
If the attachment means is rotatably mounted to allow worker movement freedom, then movement flexibility is improved, but the gas container may become tangled with the lanyard
Solution Approach 1:
The gas inlet is positioned coaxially with the rotation axis, moving the gas connection interface from the periphery to the central axis. This dimensional repositioning ensures that during rotation about the vertical axis, the gas container and its inlet do not sweep across the lateral space where the lanyard operates, eliminating the tangling hazard while preserving rotational freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas inlet connection is extracted from the rotating container body and positioned at the central axis where it remains stationary relative to the rotation. This separation of the gas interface from the rotating mass eliminates the harmful interaction between the container's rotational path and the lanyard.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed gas inlet is used on the anchor body, then the gas supply connection is stable, but the attachment means cannot rotate freely
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable attachment means assembly serves multiple functions: it provides the gas supply connection through the coaxial inlet, mounts the gas container securely, and enables rotational movement for worker freedom. This multi-functional design integrates what were previously separate functions into a single universal component system.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas inlet connection transitions from a static fixed mounting to a dynamic rotatable mounting that maintains connection stability through its coaxial alignment with the rotation axis. This allows the connection to remain stable relative to the rotating assembly while permitting the assembly itself to rotate freely.
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 design allows for uninterrupted movement of workers by preventing tangling and ensuring a secure, constant gas supply, reducing the risk of accidental disconnection and maintaining vacuum integrity during use.
Implementation Method 1
The vacuum source commonly utilises a pressurised gas supply connected to a venturi, which creates a suction force to draw the base against the surface to which it is mounted.
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum anchor for securing a fall protection system to a surface has a gas inlet to receive pressurized gas from a gas container and generates a vacuum to secure the anchor to a surface. An attachment enables a fall protection system to be connected to the anchor, the attachment being rotatably mounted to the anchor. A container mounting device is provided for mounting the gas container to the anchor in connection with the gas inlet, the container mounting means being rotatable with the rotatable. Alternatively or additionally, the gas inlet is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the attachment means.