Upper-side walkway for weather resistant roof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weather protection roofs present challenges in accessing the top surface for assembly, maintenance, and cleaning due to the limitations of existing access systems, which often result in unsafe and uncomfortable conditions, especially in bad weather or at night, as they do not allow direct access to the top of the roof skin and can be hazardous when walking at sloping angles.
Innovation Solution
A console and pipe bar system that allows for the creation of bridges across or parallel to the roof binders, featuring adjustable struts and connecting pieces to form a stable and secure footbridge, with options for side protection, enabling safe and comfortable access to the entire roof area by aligning the bridge segments to match the roof's slope angle and using hooks and clamping mechanisms for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a support structure is attached below the roof skin to create a work platform, then workers can access the roof area, but the top of the roof skin becomes inaccessible and the platform requires complex attachment structures
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attaching the support structure below the roof skin as in conventional solutions, the patent inverts the attachment approach by securing the support structure to the top surface of the roof skin. This allows direct access to the roof top while simplifying the attachment mechanism, as the support can be anchored directly to the roof structure without requiring complex below-skin attachment systems.
2Ease of operation
If bridge elements are used diagonally or across the roof binders to reach the top, then access to the roof top is possible, but the walking surface becomes sloping which is uncomfortable and dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the support structure adjustable in height and angle. The support can be positioned and configured to create a walking surface that is substantially horizontal, regardless of the roof's slope. This adjustability ensures safe and comfortable walking conditions while maintaining access to the roof top, eliminating the hazards of fixed sloping bridge elements.
3Reliability
If a horizontal walking surface is created across the roof binders, then safe walking is enabled, but the attachment structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by designing a support structure that can be attached to various roof binder configurations and adjusted to different positions. The standardized support design with adjustable features allows it to function across different roof types and orientations, creating horizontal walking surfaces without requiring custom complex structures for each specific application.
4Reliability
If the support structure is made adjustable to match roof slope, then safe horizontal walking is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the support structure into modular components that can be independently adjusted and configured. This modular design allows the support to be adapted to different roof slopes and orientations through simple assembly variations rather than complex integrated adjustment mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining safety.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a bracket for creating a transverse and a tubular beam for creating a web running parallel to the roof trusses of a weatherproof roof, detachably attached to the upper side. The bracket comprises an upper strut and a lower strut, which has at least one fastening means for attaching the bracket to a roof truss and is spaced apart from the upper strut and connected to it via a first connecting piece and a second connecting piece, the second connecting piece being longer than the first connecting piece so that the upper strut and the lower strut do not run parallel to each other. The tubular beam comprises a cross member, which defines a longitudinal direction of the tubular beam, and two connecting means for detachably connecting it to a roof truss of a weatherproof roof at opposite ends of the cross member.The invention further relates to a weather protection roof with a transverse upper web formed using a plurality of such brackets.