Articulating Boom Assembly for Stable Mobile Scanner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile scanners require continuous operation of their main engine to maintain an articulating boom aloft for extended periods, leading to fuel wastage, pollution, and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A mobile scanner design featuring an articulating boom assembly that can remain in a deployed position without external power, utilizing joints to maintain its configuration, allowing the scanner to operate in a low-power mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the main engine runs for a prolonged period to keep the articulating boom aloft, then the boom remains stable in the deployed position, but fuel consumption increases and pollution is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies counterweight principles through the articulating boom's mechanical design, where the boom sections and joints are configured to balance each other's weight. The intermediate horizontal boom section acts as a counterbalance to the distal vertical boom section, allowing the system to maintain equilibrium and stability without continuous engine power, thus resolving the contradiction between boom stability and fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating boom assembly is designed to be self-sustaining in the deployed position through its mechanical joint configuration and gravity-assisted stabilization. Once deployed, the boom maintains its position through its own structural design rather than requiring external power input, enabling the scanner to operate in a low-power mode while keeping the boom stable.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the main engine runs continuously to maintain the articulating boom position, then the boom remains aligned, but pollution is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight mechanism through properly balanced boom sections eliminates the need for continuous engine operation to maintain alignment. The mechanical balance achieved through the articulating joint design allows the boom to hold its position without generating pollution from prolonged engine running.
Solution Approach 2:
The boom system serves itself by using gravity and mechanical design to maintain alignment without external intervention. The self-stabilizing design allows the boom to remain aligned in the deployed position without continuous power input, thereby eliminating pollution generation.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the articulating boom is kept aloft with continuous power, then the scanning operation can proceed, but noise is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating boom assembly is designed to maintain its deployed position through its own structural configuration and gravity, without requiring continuous power input. This self-sustaining design enables prolonged scanning operations to proceed quietly, as the engine can be shut off once the boom is deployed, eliminating noise generation during the scanning process.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile scanner includes a base, an articulating boom assembly, a scanning assembly, and a boom-power system. The articulating boom assembly includes a proximal vertical boom section pivotably secured to the base; a distal vertical boom section; and an intermediate horizontal boom section disposed between the proximal vertical boom section and the proximal vertical boom section. The articulating boom assembly forms a general inverted U-shape when in a deployed position, so as to present an opening therethrough for the passing of an object to be scanned. The scanning assembly is disposed at least in part on the distal vertical boom section for scanning the object in the opening. The boom-power system is configured to place the articulating boom assembly into the deployed position. The articulating boom assembly is configured to remain in the deployed position without the boom-power system keeping the articulating boom assembly in the deployed position.