Pivoting Safety Catch Connector With Dual Locking Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety catch connectors for height safety equipment are complicated to use, especially for operators wearing gloves, due to the risk of inadvertently disengaging the shaft from the positioning portion, making it difficult to easily lock and unlock the connection between the harness and the lifting lug.
Innovation Solution
A safety catch connector design featuring a catch member that is pivotally connected to a body, with first and second locking members that move between specific positions to lock and unlock the catch member, preventing easy disengagement and allowing for easy operation even with gloved hands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shaft penetrates through a positioning portion and is fixed by locking members, then the connection between harness and lifting lug is secured, but the device becomes complicated to operate especially when wearing gloves
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into distinct functional components: a body portion, a catch member with first and second sections, and locking members. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, making the overall device easier to operate while maintaining secure connection through the pivotal catch member mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The catch member is designed to be pivotally connected to the body, allowing it to rotate between locked and unlocked positions. This dynamic mechanism replaces static penetration and locking with a rotational movement that is easier to operate with gloved hands, while still providing reliable connection security when in the locked position
2Ease of operation
If the shaft is allowed to move freely for easy insertion, then the operator can quickly connect the harness, but the shaft may be inadvertently disengaged from the positioning portion
Solution Approach 1:
The locking members are positioned to prevent the catch member from moving away from the body before the operator intends to unlock it. This preliminary restraint action prevents inadvertent disengagement during normal use, while still allowing quick connection when the operator deliberately actuates the unlocking mechanism
3Reliability
If multiple locking members are used to secure the shaft, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity and operation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second sections of the catch member work together as an integrated pivotal mechanism, combining the functions of multiple locking points into a single rotational movement. This merging reduces the operational steps required compared to securing multiple independent locking points, while maintaining reliable connection through the combined action of both sections
Data Source
AI summary
A safety catch connector, which is adapted to be connected to a sling and a harness, including a body, a catch member, a first locking member and a second locking member. The body is adapted to be connected to the harness. The catch member is pivotally connected to the body for pivoting relative to the body between an unlocked position and a locked position. The first locking member and the second locking member are disposed on the body. The first locking member is operable to move between a first position and a second position on the body. The second locking member is operable to move between a third position and a fourth position on the body. When the first locking member is at the first position and the second locking member is at the third position, the catch member is locked at the locked position.