Actuated Lift Pins and Lift Collar for Secure Equipment Lifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lifting systems for heavy equipment, such as small wheel loaders, pose challenges in safely and efficiently attaching machines to cranes or hoists, risking personnel safety and potential damage, with a need for reliable connection mechanisms and secure fastening.
Innovation Solution
A lift coupling system comprising a lifting base with retractable lift pins and a lift collar that engages and disengages via an actuator, ensuring secure attachment and remote monitoring of the lifting process, allowing for safe and efficient lifting operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional manual connection mechanisms are used to attach machines to cranes or hoists, then the system structure remains simple, but personnel safety is compromised and the reliability of attachment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting system automatically determines whether connection mechanisms are correctly positioned and securely fastened without requiring manual inspection. The system self-verify the attachment status through sensors that detect the engagement state of lift pins with the lift collar, eliminating the need for personnel to physically check connections while ensuring reliable attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical connection verification with an automated sensing system. Sensors detect the position and engagement state of lift pins, converting mechanical attachment status into electrical signals that can be monitored and verified automatically, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If manual connection and disconnection of cranes to machines is performed, then the device complexity remains low, but personnel exposure to safety risks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that provide feedback on the engagement state of lift pins with the lift collar. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor attachment status in real-time, enabling safe and efficient lifting operations by confirming correct positioning before lifting begins and allowing remote monitoring throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensors as intermediary devices between the mechanical connection components and the control system. These sensors act as mediators that detect the physical engagement state and translate it into information that can be used for automated control and monitoring, improving operational safety without requiring complex direct control mechanisms.
3Productivity
If traditional lifting attachment methods are used, then the system structure is simple, but the speed of lifting operations is reduced due to manual connection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of connection status through sensors before lifting operations begin. By pre-checking whether lift pins are correctly positioned and securely engaged with the lift collar, the system ensures safe attachment is confirmed in advance, enabling faster and more efficient lifting operations without compromising safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting system automatically verifies attachment correctness through integrated sensors, eliminating the need for manual inspection and connection verification. This self-verification capability accelerates the lifting operation cycle by removing time-consuming manual checks while maintaining simple connection mechanism design.
Data Source
AI summary
A lift coupling system includes a lifting base attachable to an object. The lifting base includes a housing. Lift pins move between a retracted state within the housing and an extended state wherein a portion of each of the lift pins extend outwardly from the housing. An actuator moves the lift pins between the retracted and extended state. A lift collar includes a lift collar body configured to fit about the housing. The lift collar contacts and couples the lift pins to the lift collar when positioned about the housing and the lift pins are in the extended state and decouple therefrom when the lift pins are in the retracted state. At least one lift tab may be arranged on the lift collar body configured to enable lifting of the lifting base and the object thereby when the lift collar is coupled to the lifting base.