Telescopic Rod Tip Locking Structure for Full-Extension Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Telescopic rods, particularly those used for live work or measuring, often fail to ensure the tip part is fully extended, posing a safety risk when operating near live electrical components due to inadequate locking mechanisms, which is a concern for compliance with safety standards like DIN EN 62193.

Innovation Solution

A locking structure is designed to exclusively fix the top telescopic step element in its fully extended state, preventing accidental disengagement by using a locking mechanism that automatically secures the top telescopic step element relative to the adjacent one only when fully extended, incorporating features like a stop and a clamping mechanism to prevent rotation and ensure safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking mechanism is provided for each telescopic step element, then the reliability of fixing each section is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing reliabilityVSAvoidlocking mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the locking function from all telescopic step elements and concentrates it solely on the uppermost telescopic step element. This means only the critical tip section that requires fixed positioning during use has a locking mechanism, while other sections can be freely adjusted. This selective approach maintains safety reliability where needed while avoiding the complexity of providing locks on every section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage when the uppermost telescopic step element reaches its fully extended position. The stop element and locking mechanism work together such that the locking action occurs automatically at the predetermined fully extended state, eliminating the need for manual locking operations and ensuring safety without adding operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the uppermost telescopic step element is automatically locked in fully extended state, then the safety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoperation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is designed to be self-activating based on the position of the uppermost telescopic step element. When the element is fully extended, the stop element automatically triggers the locking mechanism to engage, without requiring any additional manual action from the operator. This self-service approach ensures safety automatically while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates positional feedback through the stop element that detects when the uppermost telescopic step element has reached its fully extended position. This feedback triggers the locking mechanism to engage automatically, ensuring that the safety function activates only under the correct operational condition while keeping the interface simple for the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If a locking mechanism is provided for every telescopic step element, then the reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the locking function from all telescopic step elements and concentrates it solely on the uppermost telescopic step element. This means only the critical tip section that requires fixed positioning during use has a locking mechanism, while other sections can be freely adjusted. This selective approach maintains safety reliability where needed while avoiding the complexity of providing locks on every section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4421330A1Locking structure of a telescopic rod, in particular a telescopic measuring rod for working under tension, and telescopic rod comprising such a locking structure
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 COWEX AG
  • EP4421330A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4421330A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4421330A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention relates to a locking structure (7) of a telescopic rod (1), in particular a telescopic measuring rod for work under tension, wherein the telescopic rod (1) has several telescopically concentrically slidable tubular telescopic step elements (3, 4, 5, 6) which are slidable relative to each other, in particular manually and preferably one after the other, wherein the locking structure (7) is designed to fix the uppermost telescopic step element (6), which forms the tip part of the telescopic rod (1), in its fully extended state when the telescopic rod (1) is extended.