Telescopic Support Post With External Biasing for Fast Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety post systems for construction sites are time-consuming to install, require special tools, and can be aesthetically and structurally impactful, with internal biasing means being difficult to maintain and prone to dirt ingress, affecting their operational reliability.
Innovation Solution
A support device with a biasing assembly located externally to the support members, allowing for improved maintenance and accessibility, featuring telescopic members with locking mechanisms and resilient biasing elements protected by a housing to prevent dirt ingress and facilitate easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the biasing means are located within the inner member, then the support device can provide the required engagement force, but the biasing means become difficult to maintain and access for removal and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing means are extracted from the inner member and relocated to an external position on the support device. This allows the biasing means to be easily accessed, maintained, and replaced without disassembling the inner member, while still providing the required engagement force through the anchor portion.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate structure (the external mounting arrangement on the inner member) is introduced to carry the biasing means. This intermediary structure allows the biasing means to be positioned externally for easy access while maintaining the functional connection to the anchor portion and inner member system.
2Device complexity
If the biasing means are located within the inner member, then the support device structure is compact, but dirt and debris can adversely affect the operation of the biasing means over time
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing means are extracted from the enclosed inner member space and positioned externally. This extraction removes the harmful effect of dirt and debris ingress while maintaining structural efficiency through optimized external positioning and protective mounting arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
A protective housing or cover structure is provided that encloses the biasing means when in the external position. This thin-walled protective structure prevents dirt and debris ingress while allowing easy access for maintenance and replacement, and maintains a compact overall device profile.
3Reliability
If conventional foot supports are manually bolted to the floor, then the support device can be securely anchored, but the installation process becomes time consuming and requires special tools
Solution Approach 1:
The foot support is designed with self-anchoring capabilities through the resilient biasing means that automatically engage with the floor surface. The biasing means provide automatic tensioning and securing action upon installation, eliminating the need for manual bolting operations and special tools while maintaining secure anchoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual bolting mechanism is replaced with a resilient mechanical engagement system. The biasing means create automatic mechanical engagement with the floor through resilient contact and friction, substituting the complex manual bolting process with a simpler, faster resilient engagement mechanism.
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
Enhances installation efficiency, reduces maintenance challenges, and maintains structural integrity while preventing dirt from affecting the biasing mechanism, ensuring reliable operation and extended device lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
Resilient biasing means can also be provided within the inner of the two members which act to bias one of the foot supports outwardly and thereby provide an engagement force which acts to help retain the support post device between the two contact surfaces in use.
Data Source
AI summary
A support device with at least first and second support members movable with respect to each other in a direction parallel to their longitudinal axes. The support device having distal ends and the distal ends each including an anchor portion to engage directly or indirectly with a suitable surface in use, the support device including a biasing assembly for biasing one or more of the distal ends of the support device into engagement with a suitable surface in use, and the biasing assembly is located at or adjacent an end of at least one of said first and second support members and between said support member end and the anchor portion nearest to said support member end. The support device is particularly suited to a safety fence or assembly or a worker protection system.