Telescopic Lead Blanket Lifting Frame for Nuclear Workers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lead blankets used in the nuclear power industry are heavy and difficult to lift, posing a risk of injury to workers, especially as the workforce ages, due to the need for manual overhead lifting.

Innovation Solution

A telescopic lead blanket lifting frame with a horizontal base member, vertical tubular members, cross members, hooks for engaging lead blankets, and a lifting gear that allows for the telescopic extension and retraction of the frame to reduce manual lifting, featuring wheels, stabilizer feet, and options for manual or motorized actuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual lifting is used to place lead blankets, then workers can position the lead blankets, but workers are at risk of injury due to the heavy weight (40-60 pounds) of the lead blankets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of lead blanket placementVSAvoidrisk of worker injury

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting frame acts as an intermediary device between the worker and the heavy lead blanket. The frame provides a mechanical structure with hooks that engage the lead blanket, allowing the worker to lift the entire assembly rather than the blanket alone, thereby reducing the harmful effect of heavy lifting while maintaining operational capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces pure manual mechanical lifting with a mechanical lifting system. The lifting frame incorporates telescopic members and lifting gears that provide mechanical advantage, substituting the worker's manual effort with a mechanical system designed to handle the 40-60 pound lead blankets safely

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the lifting frame uses telescopic members to reduce lifting effort, then worker safety improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverisk of worker injuryVSAvoidcomplexity of lifting frame structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting frame employs telescopic members where one member is nested within another (e.g., the second vertical tubular member slides within the first). This nesting arrangement provides the telescopic lifting function while maintaining a compact form when not in use, balancing the complexity benefit with structural efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The lifting frame is divided into segmented components: horizontal base member, vertical tubular members, cross members, and lifting gears. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall manageability, preventing the complex structure from becoming unmanageably complicated

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the lifting frame is designed with telescopic extension capability, then the lifting height and versatility improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of lifting heightVSAvoidcomplexity of telescopic mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting frame incorporates dynamic telescopic members that can extend and retract vertically. The second vertical tubular member can slide within the first, and the cross members can move relative to each other, providing dynamic adjustment of lifting height and adaptability to different lead blanket configurations while using a systematic telescopic design to manage complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 telescopic lifting frame significantly reduces the physical strain on workers by allowing for the safe and efficient placement of lead blankets without overhead lifting, enhancing worker safety and reducing the risk of injury while providing effective radiation shielding.

Implementation Method 1

a lifting gear for telescopically extending and retracting the third and fourth vertical tubular members and second cross member in a vertical direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS11978567B1Telescopic lead blanket lifting frame

Publication Date: 2024.05.07 SAFESMART LLC

AI summary

A telescopic lead blanket lifting frame and method for shielding workers from a radiation source. The lifting frame includes, first and second hollow vertical tubular members attached orthogonally on first ends thereof to first and second ends of a horizontal base member. Third and fourth vertical tubular members and slidably disposed in the first and second hollow vertical tubular members. A first cross member is attached orthogonally to second ends of the first and second hollow vertical tubular members. A second cross member is attached orthogonally to distal ends of the third and fourth vertical tubular members. A plurality of hooks are attached to the first and second cross members on side portions thereof for engaging lead blankets. A lifting gear is provided for telescopically extending and retracting the third and fourth vertical tubular members and second cross member in a vertical direction.