Assisted Centering Device for Rotating Tower Positioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for centering and locking a rotating tower in operator vehicles are laborious, inefficient, and prone to inaccuracies due to reliance on operator empirical control and manual activation, leading to repeated corrections and potential deviations from the central position under inertial loads.

Innovation Solution

An assisted centering device equipped with a detector and control module that uses sensors to provide progressive proximity signals for precise positioning and automatic locking, allowing for automated control of the tower's rotation and locking mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the operator manually controls the tower rotation towards the central position using empirical methods and visual signals, then the device complexity is reduced, but the positioning precision and time efficiency deteriorate due to repeated corrections and inability to instantaneously stop at the central position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidtower positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical control system with an automated electro-hydraulic control system. A control module receives signals from detectors about the tower's angular position and automatically activates the hydraulic motor to rotate the tower, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention and visual signals while achieving precise positioning at the central position

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system performs self-correction by continuously monitoring the tower's position through detectors and automatically adjusting the rotation to maintain precise central positioning. The system serves itself by detecting position deviations and autonomously correcting them without external manual input

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If the operator manually activates the locking device after reaching the central position, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential deviations from the central position under inertial loads during vehicle driving

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking mechanism complexityVSAvoidtower position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control module automatically activates the locking device as soon as the tower reaches the central position, performing the locking action in advance before inertial loads from vehicle acceleration can cause position deviations. This preliminary automated locking prevents potential position drift without requiring manual operator intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If the operator receives visual signals and manually reverses rotation to correct position, then no additional sensors are needed, but the time efficiency and productivity deteriorate due to laborious repeated corrections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor system complexityVSAvoidcentering operation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual reversal operations with automated bidirectional control. The control module receives detector signals and automatically reverses the hydraulic motor's rotation direction to correct position deviations, eliminating the time-consuming manual reversal process and significantly improving centering operation efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3838829B1Operator vehicle with assisted centring device
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 MANITOU ITALIA SRL
  • EP3838829B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3838829B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3838829B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described is an operator vehicle, comprising: a platform (2), equipped with a seat (3); a tower (T), coupled to the seat (3) in a rotatable fashion about a main rotation axis; motor means, arranged to rotate the tower (T) about the main axis; a detector, arranged to detect the movement of the angular position of the tower towards a reference angular position relative to the main axis, and to emit a corresponding proximity signal.