Safety-Harness Attachment with Dynamic Latching for Fall Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the oil and natural gas extraction industry, personnel working on large equipment often face safety hazards due to the need for elevated work positions, where existing safety harness systems may damage operating components or lack secure attachment points, posing risks of falls and equipment damage.
Innovation Solution
A safety-harness attachment system that can be mounted on structural members of equipment, providing dedicated secure points for safety harnesses with flexible latching mechanisms, allowing technicians to move freely while preventing falls, and is adaptable to various equipment surfaces and configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If safety harnesses are attached to operating components of equipment, then safety protection is provided, but the operating components may be damaged by misuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the safety harness attachment function from operating components by providing dedicated attachment points that are separate from operational parts. These attachment points are specifically designed for harness attachment only, preventing misuse of operating components while maintaining safety protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate attachment structures (such as D-rings, latches, and mounting brackets) that serve as mediators between the harness and the equipment. These intermediaries are designed to bear the attachment loads without transmitting damaging forces to operating components, thus protecting both the harness and the equipment.
2Reliability
If safety harness attachment points are provided on equipment, then fall prevention is enabled, but the equipment structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs attachment points that can serve multiple purposes: they provide secure harness attachment while also being integrated into the existing equipment structure. Some attachment points are designed to work with various harness types and configurations, reducing the need for multiple specialized attachment points and thereby minimizing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the safety attachment function with existing structural elements of the equipment where possible. Attachment points are integrated into frames, supports, or other load-bearing structures already present on the equipment, so that the safety system adds minimal additional complexity while still providing effective fall prevention.
3Reliability
If safety harness attachment system is made secure and fixed, then fall protection reliability is improved, but flexibility and freedom of movement are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic attachment mechanisms including movable latches, rotating D-rings, and flexible positioning options that allow workers to adjust their harness attachment points according to their movement needs. These dynamic elements maintain secure attachment for fall protection while enabling freedom of movement during normal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the attachment system into multiple separate attachment points distributed across the equipment structure. This segmentation allows workers to choose the most appropriate attachment point for their current position and task, providing both security and flexibility. The modular nature of segmented attachment points also simplifies installation and adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety-harness attachment for attaching a safety harness thereto.