Strap for lifting water-heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for lifting and moving bulky items, such as water heaters, are inadequate for navigating obstacles and installing them at elevated heights due to size and weight constraints, often resulting in damage or unsafe lifting practices.
Innovation Solution
A strap system with adjustable handles and cushions, integrated with a ratchet mechanism, designed to securely loop around the vertical cross-section of bulky items, allowing for safe and controlled lifting and placement over obstacles and onto raised platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a hand truck is used to transport the water heater, then the water heater can be moved across the floor, but it cannot be elevated sufficiently to clear obstacles like pipes or conduits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a strap as an intermediary tool between the worker and the water heater. The strap wraps around the water heater and provides handholds that allow the worker to lift the water heater vertically, clearing obstacles like pipes and conduits that would block hand truck movement.
2Force
If the water heater is lifted manually by wrapping arms around it, then it can be elevated off the ground, but the large diameter of the water heater makes it difficult for a person to wrap their arms around it
Solution Approach 1:
The strap serves as a mediator that bridges the gap between the worker's hands and the water heater's surface. Instead of wrapping arms around the large-diameter water heater, the worker wraps the strap around it and grasps the strap's handholds, making the lifting action feasible.
Solution Approach 2:
The strap is a flexible element that can conform to and wrap around the large-diameter cylindrical surface of the water heater, providing secure contact and distribution of lifting forces across the water heater's surface.
3Productivity
If the hand truck is rolled over the refrigerant pipe, then the water heater can be moved forward, but the pipe may be damaged causing a leak
Solution Approach 1:
The strap acts as an intermediary lifting mechanism that elevates the water heater vertically over obstacles rather than rolling it horizontally over them, thereby preventing contact between the water heater or transport device and sensitive pipes or conduits below.
4Force
If the water heater is lifted to elevated heights for installation, then it can be installed at the required height, but the large size and weight make it difficult to lift and control
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible strap wraps around the water heater and distributes the lifting forces across a broad surface area, preventing localized stress concentrations that could cause deformation or instability during elevation and positioning at height.
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
Enables the safe and efficient lifting and placement of bulky items, such as water heaters, by distributing weight and preventing damage, while accommodating various sizes and shapes, and allowing for easy installation at required heights.
Implementation Method 1
a ratchet attached to the strap, the ratchet configured to tighten the strap looped around the water heater
Implementation Method 2
the ratchet configured to tighten the strap looped around the water heater
Data Source
AI summary
Device for lifting a water heater includes a strap configured to loop around a vertical cross-section of the water heater. Handles extending from opposing sides of the strap when the strap is looped around the water heater are provided along with a plurality of selectively placeable cushions configured to be positioned between the strap and corners of the water heater. The device further includes a ratchet attached to the strap, the ratchet configured to tighten the strap looped around the water heater.