Single-Use Force Damper With Plastic Deformation Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fall mitigation systems, such as force dampers, are not designed for single-use safety, as their integrity cannot be verified after initial deployment, leading to potential ineffective performance when arresting different masses, posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A force damper system comprising a housing, driving member, and resilient members made from materials that undergo plastic deformation upon force arrest, ensuring single-use functionality by imparting a second force and providing visible deformation, thus ensuring safety and preventing reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If force dampers are designed for reuse, then device cost is reduced and productivity is improved, but safety reliability deteriorates because integrity cannot be verified after initial deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The force damper is designed as a single-use disposable device that is discarded after one deployment. This eliminates the need for integrity verification and ensures safety reliability, as the device cannot be reused even if it appears intact. The disposable nature resolves the contradiction by prioritizing safety over reuse capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The force damper includes visual indicators (such as color-coded tags or deformation markers) that change state after deployment. These indicators provide immediate visual confirmation that the device has been used and should not be reused, thereby maintaining safety reliability while allowing for potential inspection and accounting processes.
2Strength
If force dampers are made robust for heavy loads, then strength is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The force damper employs a telescoping tube structure divided into multiple segments that collapse sequentially during deployment. This segmentation allows the device to achieve high force arrest capability through progressive collapse of individual sections, rather than requiring a single complex robust structure. Each segment is relatively simple, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The force damper transitions from a static robust structure to a dynamic progressive collapse system. The telescoping tubes are designed to collapse in a controlled sequence, converting the static strength requirement into a dynamic energy absorption process. This reduces the need for overly robust individual components while maintaining overall force arrest capability.
3Loss of energy
If force dampers use elastic deformation for energy absorption, then energy absorption is improved, but safety reliability deteriorates because the device can be reused with uncertain integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The force damper is designed as a single-use disposable device that is discarded after one deployment. This eliminates the need for integrity verification and ensures safety reliability, as the device cannot be reused even if it appears intact. The disposable nature resolves the contradiction by prioritizing safety over reuse capability.
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 system effectively arrests falling forces with visible deformation indicators, ensuring safety and compliance with regulatory requirements by ensuring each device is used only once, thereby preventing misuse and maintaining worker safety.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient member is formed from a material that at least partially undergoes plastic deformation when the first force is arrested
Data Source
AI summary
A force damper arranged to progressively arrest a first force imparted by an object moving in a first direction is disclosed. The force damper includes a housing enclosure having a first housing end and a second housing end. The first housing end includes a first connection point, and the second housing end includes an opening. A driving member is disposed within the housing enclosure and includes a first shaft end, a second shaft end, and a shaft therebetween. The first shaft end includes a stop and the second shaft end includes a second connection point. A compressible member is disposed within the housing enclosure between the stop and the opening. The compressible member is formed from a material that at least partially undergoes plastic deformation when the first force is arrested and imparts a second force on the stop toward first housing end.