Dual-Cam Tool Handoff With Continuous Lanyard Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a risk of accidental dropping of tools and objects while working above ground, which can lead to injury or property damage, as existing solutions fail to provide a secure and reliable method for transferring these items safely.
Innovation Solution
A tool transfer system with rotatable cams and a spring assembly that allows for secure attachment and transfer of tools between various anchor points, such as a user's wrist, tool pouch, or fixed structures, ensuring continuous safety connection through the alternating locking and releasing mechanism of the cams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tool is held in a worker's hand while working above ground, then the worker has ease of operation, but the risk of accidental dropping increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lanyard as an intermediary element between the tool and the worker's harness. The lanyard acts as a safety mediator that prevents the tool from falling if accidentally dropped, while still allowing the worker to operate the tool with ease. The quick-release mechanism further mediates between secure attachment and easy detachment needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand protection by having the lanyard already attached to the tool before work begins. The quick-release mechanism is pre-configured to automatically engage with the harness, creating a safety cushion that is ready to prevent drops before they can cause harm.
2Reliability
If a secure attachment system is used to prevent dropping, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is segmented into distinct functional components: the lanyard, the quick-release mechanism, the cam-actuated latch, and the harness attachment point. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply and reliably, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high security.
Solution Approach 2:
The quick-release mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through the cam-actuated latch system. When the tool is inserted, the cam automatically rotates and engages the latch without requiring separate manual operations, making the secure attachment process self-service and minimizing complexity.
3Ease of operation
If a quick-release mechanism is implemented for easy tool detachment, then the ease of operation improves, but the risk of unintentional release increases
Solution Approach 1:
The quick-release mechanism uses dynamic elements including a rotatable cam and a spring-loaded latch that can transition between locked and unlocked states. The cam rotates dynamically to engage or disengage the latch, providing easy intentional release while the spring maintains constant pressure to prevent unintentional release during normal tool use.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam profile is asymmetrically designed with specific engagement surfaces that require a deliberate rotational motion to release. The latch geometry is asymmetric to ensure it only disengages when the cam is rotated in the correct direction with sufficient force, preventing accidental release while allowing easy intentional detachment.
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 system significantly reduces the risk of unintentional drops by maintaining a continuous safety connection during tool transfer, preventing accidents and damage by ensuring secure attachment and transfer of tools between different anchor points.
Implementation Method 1
The spring assembly consists of a slidable enclosure that contains a spring. The spring enclosure maintains its full length because of the force of the spring. When the slideable enclosure is subject to axial compression, the enclosure is reduced in axial length. When the axial compression force is no longer applied, the force of the spring urges the slideable enclosure to its original length.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for transferring an object from one user to another user that is useful to prevent unintentional dropping of the object is disclosed. A cam is rotatably connected to a structure that is configured to be attached to a first user. A central housing with two ports is configured to allow for the attachment of a tool by lanyard or other means. When the first cam is locked into the one of the housing ports, it cannot be released from the housing unless a second cam is inserted into the second housing port and captured. Once the second cam is captured the first cam is released, thus safely passing the tool from the first user to the second user while minimizing the chance of dropping the tool.