Safety Rail Traveller Locking Mechanism for Fall Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety rail systems require manual adjustment of safety lines when passing brackets, leading to interruptions and are often expensive and complex, with potential for faults.
Innovation Solution
A safety rail with a meander-shaped second longitudinal edge and hook elements on the first edge, allowing the traveller to be locked by the hook surface after a short movement, preventing falls and eliminating the need for moveable parts, thus avoiding jamming issues and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If previously known fastening devices with brackets are used, then the safety line can be anchored, but the worker has to manually replace the safety line when passing brackets, interrupting continuity
Solution Approach 1:
The safety rail provides continuous protection along the entire passage without interruption. The traveller moves continuously along the rail while the safety line remains constantly engaged through the locking mechanism, eliminating the need to stop and reposition the line at discrete bracket points.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism automatically engages and disengages as the traveller moves along the rail. The hook elements and locking surfaces work together to maintain continuous safety engagement without requiring manual intervention from the worker to reposition or replace the safety line.
2Ease of operation
If safety wires with specialized spaced fastening devices and travellers are arranged to automatically pass fastening devices, then manual replacement is avoided, but the system becomes expensive and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is segmented into separate elements: hook elements on the safety rail and corresponding locking surfaces on the traveller. This segmentation allows each component to be simple in design while collectively providing the automatic locking function, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the traveller actively engage with complex fastening devices, the safety rail provides passive locking surfaces that automatically engage the traveller. The locking action is inverted from an active traveller mechanism to a passive rail-based system, simplifying the traveller design.
3Reliability
If moveable parts are used in the traveller for locking, then automatic locking is achieved, but parts may jam due to intrusion of dirt, freezing water etc.
Solution Approach 1:
The locking surfaces are designed as simple, robust geometric features rather than complex mechanical parts. This simplified design reduces the number of moving components and minimizes points where dirt or freezing water could intrude and cause jamming, making the system more reliable in harsh environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex mechanical locking mechanism is replaced with a simpler geometric interlocking system using hook surfaces and locking surfaces. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity and eliminates many moving parts that could jam, while maintaining the automatic locking function.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4a~4c
Figure 5
AI summary
A safety rail (2) included in a system for protecting a person from fatal falls from a structure is arranged for fastening along passage (21,22,23) on the structure, wherein the safety rail (2) is arranged for co-operation with a moveable traveller (3) having a fastener (4) for co-operation with the safety line, and wherein the safety rail (2) exhibits means for locking the traveller (3) in a locking direction (S). The safety rail exhibits on one edge a plurality of hook elements (7) each one with a hook surface (8) directed essentially opposite to the locking direction (S) for locking engagement with the traveller (3). A second edge has alternating inward bends (6) and outward protrusions (5). Each inward bend (6) and each hook element (7) are positioned opposite to each other, and each outward protrusion (5) is positioned opposite to a portion (10) between two hook elements (7). The invention also relates to a traveller and a system.