Boom Adapter for Armored Bridge Element Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing armored bridge-laying vehicles require a similar vehicle to pick up and transport bridge elements, limiting versatility and operational flexibility if one vehicle is defective or unavailable.
Innovation Solution
An adapter for vehicles with a boom, featuring clamping devices that engage with the bridge element's running rail and pinion gear, allowing for horizontal movement and secure attachment, and a quick-change device for easy connection to the boom, enabling other vehicles to pick up, transport, and set down bridge elements adapted to the 'Biber' armored bridge-laying vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If bridge elements are adapted to the bridge-laying tank with specific guide rails and drive rods, then the bridge can be extended horizontally with low silhouette, but the bridge can only be deployed and retrieved by this specific type of bridge-laying tank
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter serves as an intermediary device that translates between the bridge element's mounting interface (guide rails and drive rods) and the generic vehicle boom interface. The adapter's clamping devices with recesses receive the drive pins from the bridge element, while the connection device couples the adapter to the vehicle boom, enabling universal compatibility without modifying the bridge element itself
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is designed with universal compatibility to work with multiple vehicle types (armored vehicles, engineering vehicles, construction vehicles) that have booms, while maintaining the specific interface requirements of the bridge element. This multi-functionality allows any vehicle with a boom to deploy and retrieve bridge elements, not just the original bridge-laying tank
2Shape
If the bridge is mounted on the bridge-laying tank for transport, then the silhouette is significantly lowered, but another vehicle of the same type is required if one vehicle is defective
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter enables multiple different vehicle types to perform the bridge deployment function, creating redundancy in the system. If one bridge-laying tank is defective, any other vehicle equipped with a boom and the adapter can retrieve and redeploy the bridge, significantly improving operational availability and reliability
3Manufacturing precision
If clamping devices are provided with recesses for receiving drive pins, then precise alignment and secure connection are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge element's existing drive pins automatically serve as the connection interface for the adapter's recesses. The drive pins, originally intended for engagement with the bridge-laying tank's feed device, now automatically align and connect to the adapter's recesses, eliminating the need for separate alignment mechanisms and reducing overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The drive pins and recesses interface is designed to be universal, allowing the same connection mechanism to work with different vehicle types while maintaining precise alignment. The recesses are positioned to automatically receive the drive pins from the bridge element, ensuring precise connection without complex adjustment mechanisms
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Adapter (10) for the boom (210) of a vehicle (200) for picking up, transporting and setting down a bridge element (100), wherein the bridge element (100) has two supports (110, 120) arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart, forming a vehicle track, a guide rail (130) arranged on the side of each support (110, 120) facing the other support (120, 110) for receiving rollers of a feed device that moves the bridge element (100) horizontally, and a drive rod (140) arranged on each support (110, 120) and extending along the respective guide rail (130), each drive rod being formed from a plurality of bolts (150) arranged in a row, connected on one side to a support (110, 120) and configured to engage with a drive pinion of the feed device,characterized by at least two clamping devices (20) arranged to be displaceable in opposite directions, each having a first section (30) that can be inserted into a guide rail (130) of one of the supports (110, 120) and a second section (40) having a plurality of recesses (50) for receiving the free ends of a predetermined number of bolts (150) of the drive stock (140) of the same support (110, 120).