Scaffold Cover Roller Mechanism for Wind-Resistant Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scaffold covers are cumbersome to attach, remove, and store, and are often fragile, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs in construction and maintenance operations.
Innovation Solution
A scaffold cover assembly featuring a roller and connectors that allow the cover to be easily rolled up and down, and reversibly fixed to a fixing member, which disconnects at a predetermined tension to prevent damage from strong winds or precipitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover is attached to protect the workspace, then protection against environmental factors is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome attachment and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed to be dynamically attachable and detachable through a roller mechanism with connectors that can be easily engaged and disengaged from fixing members, transforming the static attachment process into a dynamic, easily reversible operation
Solution Approach 2:
The cover system is divided into separate components (cover, roller, connectors, fixing members) that can be independently handled and assembled, making the attachment and removal processes simpler and more manageable
2Stability of the object's composition
If a cover is permanently fixed to the scaffold, then stability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates when wind or precipitation requires temporary removal
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system uses reversible connectors that provide stable fixation during normal conditions but can be quickly released when environmental conditions change, allowing the system to transition between stable and adaptable states as needed
Solution Approach 2:
The connectors are designed to automatically engage with the fixing members and can be easily disengaged by workers without requiring complex tools or procedures, making the system self-sufficient for both attachment and removal operations
3Object-affected harmful factors
If strong winds act on the cover, then protection function is maintained, but damage risk increases due to excessive tension on the cover material
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design incorporates a predetermined tension threshold that allows the cover to disconnect from the fixing member before the material reaches its breaking point, cushioning against damage by releasing excess tension caused by strong winds or accumulated precipitation
Solution Approach 2:
The predetermined tension mechanism converts the harmful effect of strong winds and precipitation accumulation into a beneficial automatic disconnection feature, where the force that could damage the cover instead triggers a protective release mechanism
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
An assembly (100) comprises a scaffold (103) for operable positioning at and/or against a portion of a construction and providing a work space (W) for a worker, and a cover (119) for protecting at least part of the work space (W), extending from a proximal end to a distal end (D), a roller (117) in use mounted on the scaffold (103) on a first position, and a fixing member (121) in use mounted on another position, the roller (117) supporting the proximal end of the cover (119) and configured to reversibly roll a portion of the cover (119) to/from a rolled-up configuration from/to an unrolled configuration to (un-)cover at least part of the work space (W), and one or more connectors (123) configured to reversibly fix the distal end (D) of the cover (119) to the fixing member (121) and reversibly disconnect the distal end (D) from the fixing member (121) at at least a predetermined tension on the distal end pulling the distal end from the fixing member.