Cast Mounting Tower for Combustion Engine Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for supporting combustion engines during overhaul, transportation, and servicing are time-consuming and costly, leading to increased engine downtime and lost revenue due to the complexity of transferring and reassembling engines within different support frames.
Innovation Solution
A cast mounting tower system with an upper portion and crosswise extending ribs, forming a one-piece structure, is used to support engines and generators, providing increased stiffness, reduced costs, and facilitating easier access and replacement by being modular and uniformly cast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional multi-component mounting towers are used, then manufacturing flexibility is maintained, but structural stiffness and strength are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting tower is designed as a single integrated cast structure combining the upper mounting portion, crosswise ribs, and lower connection portion into one monolithic component. This eliminates the need for separate parts and complex welding assemblies, while providing continuous structural integrity and enhanced stiffness throughout the entire tower assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting tower utilizes a composite structural design within a single casting, integrating rigid rib structures with mounting portions of varying thicknesses and configurations. This allows optimization of material distribution to achieve maximum stiffness where needed while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through conventional casting processes.
2Productivity
If complex support frame assemblies are used, then engine support capability is adequate, but engine exchange time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting tower is designed as a modular component that can be independently removed and replaced. The standardized connection interfaces allow the entire tower assembly to be quickly detached from the support frame and repositioned, enabling rapid engine exchange without requiring disassembly of the entire support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting tower design with standardized connection features can be universally applied to multiple support frame configurations and engine types. This universality allows towers to be interchangeably positioned and engines to be rapidly exchanged between different frame locations without requiring custom fabrication or complex realignment procedures.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used for mounting towers, then manufacturing flexibility is maintained, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting tower is designed as a single integrated cast structure combining the upper mounting portion, crosswise ribs, and lower connection portion into one monolithic component. This eliminates the need for separate parts and complex welding assemblies, while providing continuous structural integrity and enhanced stiffness throughout the entire tower assembly.
4Ease of operation
If traditional mounting structures are used, then basic support function is provided, but access to engine components is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting tower is designed as a modular component that can be independently removed and replaced. The standardized connection interfaces allow the entire tower assembly to be quickly detached from the support frame and repositioned, enabling rapid engine exchange without requiring disassembly of the entire support structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system includes a cast mounting tower having an upper portion configured to support an engine, a generator, or any combination thereof and a plurality of ribs coupled to and supporting the upper portion of the mounting tower. The plurality of ribs extend from the upper portion in a direction crosswise to the upper portion, the upper portion and the plurality of ribs are integrally coupled as a one-piece structure of the cast mounting tower, and the cast mounting tower is configured to couple to a frame.