Cable Adapter for Hoist Apparatus Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cable hoist mechanisms for roll-off vehicles are cumbersome and require skilled technicians for cable replacement, as they involve complex thimble-and-clamp arrangements or modifications to attach and detach cables, posing safety risks and increasing downtime and costs.
Innovation Solution
An adapter with longitudinal arms, a transverse bridge, and a gate member is used to attach a cable end with an end fitting to a frame at an existing attachment opening, simplifying the process by allowing transverse insertion and secure fastening without modifying the grounding structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thimble-and-clamp arrangement is used to attach the cable end to the frame, then the cable can be securely fastened, but the cable replacement process becomes time-consuming and requires skilled technicians
Solution Approach 1:
The cable attachment system is divided into separate functional components: the frame with attachment opening, the cable end with end fitting, and the adapter as an intermediate element. This segmentation allows the adapter to be pre-assembled with the cable end fitting, enabling quick installation by simply attaching the pre-assembled unit to the frame through the existing attachment opening, thereby reducing replacement time while maintaining secure attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter serves as an intermediary component between the cable end fitting and the frame. It provides a simplified interface that eliminates the need for complex thimble-and-clamp arrangements. The adapter's design allows it to be attached to the frame through the existing attachment opening and then receive the cable end fitting, making the replacement process straightforward and reducing the skill level required while maintaining attachment reliability
2Ease of repair
If the cable end is attached using clamps that must be removed and reinstalled, then the cable can be replaced, but the process becomes complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The complex clamp mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simpler adapter design. The adapter provides a direct attachment interface that eliminates the need for multiple clamps requiring removal and reinstallation. By taking out the complicated clamp system and replacing it with a streamlined adapter that attaches through the existing opening, the process becomes less error-prone and easier to perform while maintaining cable replaceability
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is designed to be pre-assembled with the cable end fitting or prepared in advance. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex on-site assembly operations. When cable replacement is needed, the pre-prepared adapter-cable assembly can be quickly installed by attaching it to the frame through the existing attachment opening, significantly reducing the complexity and potential for errors in the replacement process
3Reliability
If a skilled technician is required to properly install the cable attachment, then safety is maintained, but downtime and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter design enables operators to perform cable replacement themselves without requiring specialized skills or external assistance. The simplified attachment mechanism allows anyone to properly install the cable by following basic procedures: attach the adapter to the frame through the existing opening, then attach the cable end fitting to the adapter. This self-service capability maintains safety through proper design while eliminating the need to wait for skilled technicians, thereby improving vehicle operational efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between simple operator-level installation and the previously required skilled technician installation. It provides a built-in guidance and alignment mechanism that ensures proper installation even by unskilled operators, while still maintaining the safety and reliability previously achievable only by skilled technicians. This eliminates the bottleneck of requiring specialized personnel and improves overall productivity
Data Source
AI summary
An adapter for releasably attaching a cable end having an end fitting to a frame of a hoist apparatus at an attachment opening of the frame includes a pair of longitudinal arms connected by a transverse bridge, an attachment portion coupled to the pair of arms and spaced longitudinally from the bridge, and a gate member. The bridge has inner and outer faces connected by a side face, a longitudinal cable passageway through the inner and outer faces, and a cable insertion slot communicating with the cable passageway, wherein the insertion slot is open through the inner, outer, and side faces. The gate member is received by the insertion slot, and is selectively removable from the slot to permit transversely directed insertion of a portion of the cable end through the slot into the cable passageway such that the end fitting is opposed by the inner face of the bridge.