Sensor-Triggered SRL Harness Locking for Shorter Fall Arrest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-retracting lanyard (SRL) systems require a person to fall for a certain distance before the locking components engage, leading to potential rebound and shock forces that can cause injury.
Innovation Solution
A smart safety harness system that includes sensors and processors to detect excessive movement of an object and automatically transmit a signal to control the locking component of an SRL, preventing falls and reducing rebound forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a self-retracting lanyard (SRL) is used to allow occupants to leave the lift to do work, then freedom of movement is improved, but fall distance increases leading to rebound and shock forces that can cause injury
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of fall conditions using sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, barometers) and algorithms that analyze movement patterns before a complete fall occurs. The controller proactively activates the locking mechanism when imminent fall is detected, preventing the full development of harmful rebound and shock forces that would occur with traditional reactive SRL systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical centrifugal force-based locking mechanism with an intelligent system using sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, barometers), processors running fall-detection algorithms, and electronic controllers. This substitution enables proactive detection and response to fall conditions, significantly reducing the fall distance and harmful forces compared to traditional mechanical SRL systems.
2Ease of operation
If the locking components in the SRL are designed to engage only after a certain fall distance, then the system allows normal movement without false lockups, but the fall distance becomes excessive causing injury
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors movement parameters using accelerometers, gyroscopes, and barometers, providing real-time feedback to the controller. The fall-detection algorithms analyze this feedback data to distinguish between normal movement patterns and imminent fall conditions, enabling proactive locking before excessive fall distance occurs while avoiding false lockups during normal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The intelligent detection system identifies and responds to imminent fall conditions before the actual fall completes, performing the locking action in advance. This preliminary intervention reduces the fall distance to minimal levels while maintaining system reliability, unlike traditional systems that only react after the fall has already occurred.
3Device complexity
If a traditional mechanical SRL system is used, then the device complexity is low, but the system cannot detect and prevent falls before they occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple mechanical components with an intelligent system incorporating accelerometers, gyroscopes, barometers, processors, and fall-detection algorithms. This substitution dramatically improves fall detection and prevention capability while the modular architecture keeps the added complexity manageable and integrated within the SRL housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system integrates multiple sensor functions (acceleration detection, orientation sensing, altitude measurement) and processing capabilities into a single multi-functional fall-detection unit. This universal approach provides comprehensive fall prevention while consolidating components to minimize the increase in overall device complexity.
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 detects imminent falls and automatically locks the SRL, minimizing fall distance and reducing the risk of injury from rebound forces, while allowing users maximum freedom of movement without unnecessary lockups.
Implementation Method 1
one or more sensors operably coupled with the one or more straps and detect movement of the object
Implementation Method 2
The centrifugal forces acting on the locking pawls in the SRL cause the locking pawls to overcome spring tension and rotate outwards to the locked position. When the locking pawls engage the ratchet latches, the rotation of the SRL is stopped and no additional lanyard can be extended.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method include a safety harness system having straps operably coupled with an object, and sensors operably coupled with the straps. The sensors detect movement of the object and transmit data associated with the movement of the object to one or more processors. The processors determine that an amount of movement of the object exceeds a movement threshold, and transmit a signal responsive to the one or more processors determining that the amount of movement of the object exceeds the movement threshold.