Well Safety Device with Segmented Pillar Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety devices for urban inspection wells are either ineffective in protecting workers due to slow installation, insufficient protection, and unnecessary obstruction of traffic, as they are not designed to handle high-speed collisions or rapid deployment.
Innovation Solution
A safety device comprising a support structure that locks onto the well and a collar that secures it to the ground, featuring a protective structure with pillars and railings to define a safe working area, which can be quickly installed by lowering it into the well and includes features like friction-enhancing coatings and visual warnings to deter collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If movable concrete blocks are used to protect the work area, then some protection is provided, but they only help in collisions at very slow velocity because the blocks slide along with the car
Solution Approach 1:
The protective structure is divided into multiple pillars arranged in a circle around the well, with each pillar independently anchored to the ground. This segmentation allows the structure to better absorb and distribute collision forces from high-speed vehicles, preventing the entire structure from sliding away like a single concrete block.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device is pre-assembled as a complete unit including the collar with integrated pillars and protective structure. This preliminary assembly allows for rapid deployment where the entire protective structure is lowered into position around the well in one action, providing immediate protection before traffic can cause harm.
2Reliability
If a truck is parked in front of the well to protect the work area, then sufficient protection is provided, but the road is blocked and the truck cannot be used for its normal purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The protective structure uses multiple slender pillars distributed around the well perimeter rather than a single large barrier. This segmentation allows traffic to pass between the pillars while still providing protective coverage, maintaining road productivity while ensuring worker safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection shifts from a linear barrier (truck parked in front) to a circular arrangement of pillars around the well. This dimensional change allows traffic to flow through the protected area while the protective structure remains in place, eliminating the need to block the road.
3Ease of operation
If safety strips, lights or fences are used to attach driver attention, then observant drivers are helped, but they do not protect the person working if a driver does not notice the marked work area
Solution Approach 1:
The protective structure serves as a physical intermediary between the worker and the vehicle. Rather than relying on driver awareness, the structure physically intercepts and absorbs collision forces, protecting the worker even when drivers do not notice the work area.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective structure is designed to absorb and redirect the harmful kinetic energy of colliding vehicles. The pillars are anchored to resist being pushed inward, and the structure converts the harmful impact force into ground reaction forces through the anchors, protecting the worker from the full force of the collision.
4Reliability
If devices not suited for such a use are used, then protection may be provided, but they take a great deal of space and may be slow to install
Solution Approach 1:
The entire protective structure including collar, pillars, and protective elements is pre-assembled as a single integrated unit. This preliminary assembly eliminates on-site construction time and allows the complete protective structure to be rapidly deployed by simply lowering it into position around the well.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device is designed to be mobile and rapidly deployable. The collar with integrated pillars can be lowered into position around the well and quickly secured, providing immediate protection. The structure adapts to the well location rather than requiring fixed installation, enabling fast deployment.
Data Source
AI summary
The safety device is to be installed in a well. The safety device is has a support structure that is arranged to be lowered at least partly into the well and that restricts the movement of the safety device in the horizontal direction. A collar is in connection with the support structure and arranged to be set against the ground to restrict the movement of the safety device in the vertical direction, with a protective structure arranged on the collar to define a safe working area around the well.