Trench Ladder With Adjustable Arms And Legs For Secure Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ladders used in trench shoring systems lack a secure and adjustable mechanism to mount and secure the ladder to the structure, especially when the outside surface of the structure is buried or inaccessible.
Innovation Solution
The ladder design incorporates one or more arms that abut the inside surface of the structure to maintain a predetermined distance between the rungs and the structure, along with adjustable legs that abut the outside surface to prevent movement, and an adjustment assembly that secures the ladder to the structure from either side.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ladder is mounted to the structure with arms abutting the inside surface, then the ladder can be securely positioned, but the outside surface of the structure must be accessible for securing the ladder
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting mechanism is divided into separate functional components: arms that contact the inside surface for positioning and legs that contact the outside surface for securing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, solving the contradiction by enabling secure mounting without requiring the outside surface to be accessible for the entire mounting process.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism that bridges the inside and outside surfaces of the structure. It transfers the securing action from the outside surface to the inside surface, allowing the ladder to be secured through the adjustment assembly even when the outside surface is buried or inaccessible.
2Reliability
If the legs are adjusted to abut the structure, then the ladder can be secured, but the adjustment mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment assembly merges multiple functions into a single integrated mechanism: it adjusts the leg position, secures the ladder to the structure, and maintains the predetermined distance between rungs and the structure. This consolidation reduces the overall complexity compared to having separate mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it can be operated from either the inside or outside surface, it adjusts both the leg position and the rung spacing, and it provides both positioning and securing capabilities. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If the arms maintain a predetermined distance from the structure, then the rungs are positioned correctly, but the arms require adjustment capability
Solution Approach 1:
The arms are designed with adjustable length, allowing them to dynamically adapt to different structural configurations. This dynamic capability enables the arms to maintain the predetermined distance between rungs and the structure while accommodating variations in the actual structure geometry, without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The arm length parameter can be changed to accommodate different positioning requirements. By adjusting the arm length parameter, the system can maintain the correct predetermined distance between rungs and the structure for various applications, simplifying the overall design compared to fixed-length arms with complex adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A ladder may be provided for mounting to a structure. The ladder may include one or more side rails, a plurality of rungs, one or more arms, one or more legs, and an adjustment assembly. Each of the plurality of rungs may extend between the first side rail and the second side rail. When the ladder is mounted to a structure, the one or more arms may be configured to abut an inside surface of the structure and maintain a predetermined distance between the plurality of rungs and the structure. The one or more legs may be configured to extend proximate to an outside surface of the structure when the ladder is mounted to the structure. The one or more legs may be configured to hinder movement of the ladder in the second direction. The adjustment assembly may be configured to be operated to secure the ladder to the structure.