Ladder Strand Grab With Weight-Activated Hook-Gate Grip
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ladders used to access utility strands, such as wires and cables, often slide relative to the strands, posing risks of injury or damage due to lack of a secure attachment mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A hooking system at the top of a ladder that utilizes the weight of the ladder to engage a biasing spring, allowing a gate assembly to close and securely grip the utility strand, preventing lateral movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ladder is leaned against a strand without a securing mechanism, then the setup process is simple and quick, but the ladder may slide relative to the strand causing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The strand grab assembly automatically secures the ladder to the strand using the ladder's own weight to activate the mechanism. The biasing spring and gate assembly engage with the strand without requiring manual operation, making the system self-securing rather than requiring external intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate assembly transitions from an open to closed position dynamically as the ladder is raised. The biasing spring provides a movable, adjustable gripping force that adapts to the strand diameter and ladder weight, creating a dynamic securing mechanism rather than a fixed static attachment.
2Reliability
If a securing mechanism is added to prevent ladder sliding, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strand grab assembly automatically secures the ladder to the strand using the ladder's own weight to activate the mechanism. The biasing spring and gate assembly engage with the strand without requiring manual operation, making the system self-securing rather than requiring external intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing spring is pre-loaded to automatically engage the gate assembly with the strand as soon as the ladder is raised. This preliminary action ensures the ladder is secured before the user even touches it, eliminating the need for manual securing operations.
3Strength
If the biasing spring produces strong return force, then the gate assembly closes firmly to grip the strand, but the ladder weight may not be sufficient to overcome the spring force
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing spring force is specifically calibrated to change parameters: strong enough to provide firm grip on the strand, but weak enough to be overcome by the ladder's weight. This parameter optimization allows the spring to provide adequate gripping force while remaining activatable by the ladder itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing spring creates a counteracting force that is deliberately designed to be less than the ladder's weight. This anti-weight principle allows the spring to provide gripping force while being overcome by gravity, creating a self-activating system where the ladder's weight serves as the activating force.
4Ease of operation
If the gate assembly is held open by biasing spring, then the strand can be easily accessed, but the ladder is not secured to the strand
Solution Approach 1:
The gate assembly transitions from an open to closed position dynamically as the ladder is raised. The biasing spring provides a movable, adjustable gripping force that adapts to the strand diameter and ladder weight, creating a dynamic securing mechanism rather than a fixed static attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing spring is pre-loaded to automatically engage the gate assembly with the strand as soon as the ladder is raised. This preliminary action ensures the ladder is secured before the user even touches it, eliminating the need for manual securing operations.
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
Ensures ladder stability and safety by automatically securing the ladder to the strand with optimized grip force, reducing setup time and minimizing lateral sliding, without additional ropes or locking mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing spring engaged with the hook assembly and the gate assembly which produces a return biasing force
Implementation Method 2
the weight of the ladder itself to cause the hooking system to grab/grip and retain a utility strand
Implementation Method 3
squeeze the strand between the gate assembly and the hook assembly in a closed position and hold the ladder in place with the strand
Data Source
AI summary
A strand grab for a ladder having a hook assembly, a gate assembly engaged with the hook assembly and a biasing spring. The biasing spring produces a return biasing force which is less than a weight force of the ladder when the hook assembly rests on the strand allowing the gate assembly to close with the hook assembly and squeeze the strand between the gate assembly and the hook assembly in a closed position and hold the ladder in place with the strand. A ladder for use with a strand having a first rail and a second rail. The first rail has a first strand grab directly attached to the first rail and the second rail has a second stand grab directly attached to the second rail. A method for using a ladder. A method for making a ladder.