Portable Composite Gantry Crane Latch Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cranes, particularly davit and gantry cranes, face challenges in portability and ease of assembly due to their weight and complex assembly requirements, limiting their use in various industrial applications where lightweight and single-person operation are necessary.
Innovation Solution
The development of portable gantry cranes formed from composite materials, including an I-beam and support members made of composite materials, with innovative latch and pin systems for secure assembly and adjustable height features, allowing for lightweight and easy transportation and setup without specialized tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional materials (steel, aluminum) are used for crane construction, then structural strength and stability are improved, but weight increases making the crane difficult to transport and assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials (specifically fiberglass reinforced plastic) to construct the I-beam and support members of the gantry crane. This composite material construction provides sufficient structural strength and stability while dramatically reducing the overall weight of the crane components, enabling easy transportation and single-person assembly operations
2Reliability
If complex assembly mechanisms are used to ensure secure connections, then reliability of connection is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of assembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the gantry crane into modular segments (I-beam, support members, end housings, latch structures) that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each component features standardized connection interfaces with simple latch and pin mechanisms that provide reliable connections through straightforward assembly operations, eliminating the need for complex fastening systems
Solution Approach 2:
The latch structures are designed to be manually operated without requiring specialized tools or equipment. The pin and latch mechanisms enable users to securely assemble and disassemble the crane components through simple hand-operated actions, making the assembly process accessible to single persons without technical expertise
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composite material construction significantly reduces the crane's weight, enabling single-person operation and easy assembly, while the latch and pin systems ensure secure and adjustable configurations, enhancing portability and usability in diverse industrial settings.
Implementation Method 1
two or more end housings, each end housing enclosing a top end of one of the two or more support members and coupled thereto with an adhesive
Data Source
AI summary
A portable gantry crane formed of composite members includes a composite material I-beam. Two or more support members are formed of a composite material and each support member supports the I-beam when the portable gantry crane is in an upright position. Two or more end housings are included, each end housing enclosing a top end of one of the two or more support members and coupled thereto using adhesive. A plurality of latch structures are coupled with the I-beam, each latch structure including a latch, and each end housing having a latch receiver, each latch in combination with a latch receiver allowing one of the latch structures to be releasably fixedly coupled with an end housing. In implementations a plurality of latch structures are coupled with the I-beam, each latch structure having a latch structure enclosure and each latch structure enclosure at least partially enclosing one of the end housings.