Motorized Tool Carrier for Wind Turbine Climber Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Technicians climbing wind turbines or similar structures face fatigue and safety risks due to the need to carry heavy tools and materials over long distances, requiring multiple trips and increasing the likelihood of injury.
Innovation Solution
A tool carrier system with a carriage device equipped with electronic sensors, a radio transmitter, and a user remote control, which assists climbers by transporting tools and materials up and down the structure, reducing fatigue and enhancing safety through controlled motion and load management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If technicians carry tools and materials while climbing, then they can perform maintenance tasks, but their fatigue increases and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the maintenance operation into two separate functions: the climber's role is to ascend and descend the tower, while the tool carrier separately handles tool and material transport. This segmentation allows the climber to work without carrying heavy loads, reducing fatigue and safety risks while maintaining the ability to perform maintenance tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool carrier acts as an intermediary device between the ground and the climber. It receives tools and materials from the ground, transports them up the tower via the ladder, and delivers them to the climber at various heights. This intermediary system eliminates the need for the climber to carry tools, thereby improving safety while enabling maintenance operations.
2Productivity
If technicians make multiple trips to retrieve tools and materials, then they can complete maintenance tasks, but the time required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool carrier enables continuous tool and material supply to the climber during the maintenance operation. Instead of the climber making intermittent trips down the tower to retrieve items, the tool carrier continuously transports tools and materials upward as needed, maintaining the climber's productive action without interruption and eliminating time loss from multiple trips.
3Reliability
If the tool carrier transports heavy loads, then climber fatigue is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool carrier is designed to be self-propelled using a motorized winch system that automatically winds the cable to lift the carrier and its load. The system includes self-contained features such as a battery-powered motor, cable management mechanisms, and automatic braking systems. This self-service capability reduces the need for complex external control mechanisms while still enabling heavy load transport to reduce climber fatigue and improve safety.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A system configured for lifting or lowering a tool carriage device via a ladder climbing structure is described. The tool carriage device may be adapted to enclose and transport a payload and include a fall arrest grab with an overspeed brake to stop an uncontrolled descent of the carriage device. The tool carriage device may include obstruction sensors to detect an obstruction along the path of the carriage device.