A low cost method of vehicle response

Abstract

This invention relates to a low-cost crane response method. A laser sensor is installed at the loading / unloading station of the crane, and a rotatable reflective disk corresponding to the laser sensor is installed on the crane. Half of the surface of the reflective disk corresponding to the laser sensor cannot reflect the laser emitted by the laser sensor back to the laser sensor, while the other half can reflect the laser emitted by the laser sensor back to the laser sensor. The reflective disk is driven by a motor and can rotate. The start and stop of the motor are controlled by a switch in the crane's cab. The laser sensor is connected to the control device of a ground-based crossover vehicle that works in conjunction with the crane. The low-cost crane response method provided by this invention has a simple and ingenious structure, minimal cost increase, and is easy to implement and promote on-site. It uses a laser rangefinder and a reflective disk to transmit pulse signals, enabling signal interaction between the crane and the ground-based crossover vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a response method for a vehicle system, belonging to the technical field of metal smelting equipment. Background Technology

[0002] When Meishan Steel Plant was built, to simplify the ladle transportation process, hot ladle repair was arranged near the ladle lifting position (outlet span). Now, according to national safety standards, this layout no longer meets safety requirements, and hot ladle repair must be arranged in the cutting span. This necessitates the addition of a ladle transfer system between the two spans. Currently, the ladle to be repaired is placed on a transfer car via overhead crane, transported to the cutting span, and then lifted by the overhead crane in the cutting span to the hot repair position. After repair, the repaired ladle is lifted by the overhead crane in the cutting span onto the transfer car, and then transported to the outlet span by the overhead crane, which then lifts it for production use.

[0003] Because the overhead crane runs on elevated tracks that can stretch for hundreds of meters, it requires power via cable-stayed connections mounted on the side of the crane beam. Wired communication with other ground equipment is difficult to achieve, while wireless communication requires expensive equipment. Furthermore, overhead cranes in industrial settings are more like electromechanical systems, generally not communicating with other devices and lacking the necessary interfaces to add communication infrastructure.

[0004] The biggest safety hazard during overhead crane lifting (unloading) of ladles is the possibility of the overhead crane moving over the ladle car during the lifting (unloading) process. In actual production, the overhead crane and the over-the-lever car are not operated by the same person, and they communicate with each other via walkie-talkie to ensure that the above safety hazard does not occur. However, there have still been cases where, due to human negligence, the ladle car suddenly moved during the lifting process, almost causing a major disaster. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the above-mentioned technologies and provide an intelligent response mechanism between the overhead crane and the aerial work crane by designing a dedicated detection system, so as to avoid the safety hazard of the overhead crane suddenly moving when lifting (lowering) the bag.

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention proposes the following technical solution: a low-cost method for responding to traffic flow, comprising: installing a laser sensor at the loading and unloading station of the overhead crane; and installing a rotatable reflective disk corresponding to the laser sensor on the overhead crane; half of the surface of the reflective disk corresponding to the laser sensor cannot reflect the laser emitted by the laser sensor back to the laser sensor, while the other half can reflect the laser emitted by the laser sensor back to the laser sensor; the reflective disk is driven by a motor and can rotate, and the start and stop of the motor is controlled by a switch in the cab of the overhead crane; the laser sensor is connected to the control device of a cross-traffic vehicle that works in conjunction with the overhead crane.

[0007] When the overhead crane is performing a bag-lifting operation at the bag-lifting station, the motor is turned on, the reflective disk rotates, the laser sensor receives a periodic signal, and the control device of the cross-pass vehicle receives the signal and locks the cross-pass vehicle, making it impossible for the cross-pass vehicle to move.

[0008] A further improvement to the above scheme is that the plane of the reflective disk is parallel to the track of the vehicle; and the diameter of the reflective disk is not less than 20 centimeters.

[0009] A further improvement to the above scheme is that when the crane is located at the unloading station, the laser sensor is eccentrically aligned with the reflective disk.

[0010] A further improvement to the above scheme is that a three-color warning light controlled by the control device of the passing vehicle is installed at the bag-dropping station.

[0011] A further improvement to the above scheme is that the reflective disk is a disc made of steel, with one half of the side facing the laser sensor being made of ordinary steel, and the other half being covered with a laser reflective film.

[0012] A further improvement to the above scheme is that the motor drives the reflective disk to rotate at a speed of 1 revolution per second.

[0013] The low-cost vehicle response method provided by this invention has a simple and ingenious structure, minimal cost increase, and is easy to implement and promote in the field. It uses a laser rangefinder and a reflective disk for distance measurement to transmit pulse signals, enabling signal interaction between the vehicle and the ground-based vehicle crossing. It possesses dynamic characteristics not found in conventional static signals such as proximity switches, resulting in a low probability of false signals and high safety. It also allows for a relatively large positioning deviation (within 10cm) for the vehicle, making it highly applicable in the field. During implementation, it does not increase the operational burden on the ground-based vehicle operators, as the response is entirely automatic and requires no human intervention. The workload for the vehicle operators is minimal; they only need to press the start button before operation and the stop button after operation. It only requires developing a habit of using the machine. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the laser sensor and the reflective disk structure. Detailed Implementation Example

[0016] The low-cost vehicle response method in this embodiment is applied to, for example, vehicle response methods. Figure 1 In the scenario shown, the cross-pass vehicle and its track, as well as the hot repair station, are located at a height of 0 meters on the ground, while the overhead crane, the steel output cross-pass vehicle track, and the receiving cross-pass vehicle track are at a height of 30 meters.

[0017] like Figure 2 A laser sensor 3 is installed at the overhead crane's unloading station via bracket 4, and a rotatable reflective disk 2 corresponding to the laser sensor 3 is mounted on the crane. The rotation of the reflective disk 2 is driven by a motor 1, which is mounted on the crane via bracket 5. The start and stop of the motor 1 are controlled by a switch in the crane's cab; the crane's cab control panel is equipped with a "Bag Lifting Operation Request" button, a "Bag Lifting Operation Completed" button, and a "Rotating Device in Operation" indicator light. The laser sensor 3 is connected to the control device of the cross-train that works in conjunction with the crane. The motor drives the reflective disk 2 to rotate at a speed of 1 revolution per second.

[0018] The reflective disk 2 is a disc-shaped steel disc. One half of the side facing the laser sensor 3 is made of ordinary steel, while the other half is covered with a laser reflective film. Since ordinary metals have a large extinction coefficient, the ordinary steel surface cannot form effective reflected light, thus preventing the laser sensor 3 from obtaining data. However, the half-circle covered with the laser reflective film can reflect the laser and feed it back to the laser sensor 3, allowing the laser sensor 3 to obtain data.

[0019] When the overhead crane is performing a bag-lifting operation at the bag-lifting station, motor 1 is turned on, the reflective disc 2 rotates, and the laser sensor 3 receives a periodic signal. After receiving the signal, the control device of the overpass car locks the overpass car, and the overpass car cannot move.

[0020] Since the position of the crane lifting (unloading) the bag at the cross-car is not strictly consistent each time, but has a deviation of no more than 5cm, the plane of the reflective disk 2 is parallel to the track of the crane, and the diameter of the reflective disk 2 is not less than 20cm, so as to effectively cover the position error.

[0021] To avoid the laser sensor 3 being directly aligned with the center of the reflecting disk 2, which could cause data reception errors, the laser sensor 3 is offset towards the reflecting disk 2 when the crane is at the unloading station. Since the crane moves horizontally, the offset position should be slightly upwards or downwards, and the horizontal length of the reflecting disk 2 at the offset position must be greater than or equal to 10 cm.

[0022] To further provide the current status information of the overpass vehicle to the driver, a three-color warning light controlled by the overpass vehicle's control device is installed at the unloading station. The three-color warning light is installed at a height of 3 meters.

[0023] The specific workflow is as follows:

[0024] 1. The overhead crane exiting the steel span moves to above the ladle hoisting position of the passing car;

[0025] 2. When the crane operator presses the "Bag Operation Request" button on the control panel, motor 1 starts to rotate, and the "Rotating Device in Operation" indicator light flashes.

[0026] 3. The control device of the crossing vehicle processes the laser rangefinder signal and detects whether its change frequency is 1Hz / second; if so, the crossing vehicle is ready to work; if not, the three-color warning light is activated to display red; if the crossing vehicle is not ready to work, the three-color warning light is activated to display yellow.

[0027] 4. If the overpass vehicle is ready to operate, the three-color warning light will turn green, and the operation command of the overpass vehicle will be locked. The operator can determine whether the loading and unloading operation can be carried out by observing the color of the three-color light (operation is allowed only if it is green).

[0028] 5. During overhead crane hoisting (lowering) operations, once the overhead crane has finished hoisting (lowering) the bag and raised it to a safe height, the crane operator should press the "Bag Operation Completed" button on the control panel. The motor will then stop and the "Rotating Device in Operation" indicator light will turn off.

[0029] 6. After the control device of the vehicle fails to receive information about changes in the laser rangefinder, it will unlock the operation command and the three-color warning light will turn red.

[0030] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. All technical solutions formed by equivalent substitutions fall within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

Claims

1. A low-cost vehicle response method, characterized in that, A laser sensor is installed at the unloading station of the overhead crane, and a rotatable reflective disk corresponding to the laser sensor is installed on the overhead crane. Half of the surface of the reflective disk corresponding to the laser sensor cannot reflect the laser emitted by the laser sensor back to the laser sensor, while the other half can reflect the laser emitted by the laser sensor back to the laser sensor. The reflective disk is driven by a motor and can rotate. The start and stop of the motor are controlled by a switch in the cab of the overhead crane. The laser sensor is connected to the control device of a cross-pass vehicle that works in conjunction with the overhead crane. When the overhead crane is performing a bag-lifting operation at the bag-lifting station, the motor is turned on, the reflective disk rotates, the laser sensor receives a periodic signal, and the control device of the cross-pass vehicle receives the signal and locks the cross-pass vehicle, making it impossible for the cross-pass vehicle to move. The plane of the reflective disk is parallel to the track of the vehicle; the diameter of the reflective disk is not less than 20 centimeters; When the crane is at the unloading station, the laser sensor is eccentrically aligned with the reflective disk; The reflective disk is a disc-shaped steel disc, with one half of its side facing the laser sensor having a plain steel surface and the other half covered with a laser reflective film.

2. The low-cost vehicle response method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The unloading station is equipped with a three-color warning light controlled by the control device of the overpass vehicle.

3. The low-cost vehicle response method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The motor drives the reflective disk to rotate at a speed of 1 revolution per second.

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