Compressible Crane Mast Stop With Frangible Divider
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mast stops for cranes face challenges in scaling up for larger cranes due to physical space limitations and provide limited range of motion with varying support, while hydraulic systems operate slowly and are costly and complex.
Innovation Solution
A compressible stop assembly featuring a housing with a floating piston dividing a gas and liquid portion, a valve assembly with a check valve and pressure-sensitive valve, and a frangible divider to manage pressure and facilitate rapid compression, allowing for consistent support over a larger range of motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional spring and tube arrangement is used in a mast stop, then the mast stop can be compact and simple in structure, but it cannot be easily scaled up in size for larger cranes due to space limitations and provides limited range of motion with varying support
Solution Approach 1:
The internal cavity is divided into multiple sections by pistons (first piston, second piston) and frangible dividers, creating separate gas portions and liquid portions. This segmentation allows each section to contribute to the overall range of motion while maintaining a compact overall structure, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses multiple pistons moving in different directions or planes within the same housing volume. The first piston and second piston can move independently, effectively increasing the range of motion without proportionally increasing the housing volume, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and volume.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a hydraulic valve system is used to provide extended range of support, then the mast stop can operate over a larger range of motion with consistent support, but it operates slowly and requires large valves or multiple smaller valves increasing space requirements and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the complex hydraulic valve system and replaces it with a simpler gas-liquid piston system. The frangible divider and pressure-sensitive valve provide the necessary control functions without requiring complex hydraulic valve assemblies, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining extended range of motion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the hydraulic valve system with a mechanically simpler gas-liquid piston system. The phase change mechanism and frangible divider provide automatic control without complex valves, substituting a simpler mechanical system for the complex hydraulic system, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a hydraulic valve system is used to provide extended range of support, then the mast stop can operate over a larger range of motion with consistent support, but it operates slowly due to valve flow rate limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the slow hydraulic valve system with a faster-acting gas-liquid piston system. The frangible divider provides rapid pressure relief when needed, enabling fast compression rates while still allowing extended range of motion through the coordinated movement of multiple pistons, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the fluid system by using both gas and liquid phases. The gas portion allows for rapid compression and expansion, while the liquid portion provides consistent support over the extended range of motion. This parameter change enables both fast response and extended range without the speed limitations of hydraulic valves.
4Strength
If a larger spring and tube arrangement is used to absorb more energy for larger cranes, then the mast stop can provide greater support capacity, but it requires more physical space that may not be available
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite gas-liquid system within the piston assembly. The gas portion provides high compressibility for energy absorption, while the liquid portion provides incompressible support for high strength. This composite approach enables greater support capacity within the same volume, resolving the contradiction between strength and volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal cavity is segmented into multiple gas portions and liquid portions by pistons and frangible dividers. This segmentation allows the system to absorb energy through the compression of gas portions while maintaining high support capacity through the liquid portions, achieving greater strength without increasing volume.
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
Enables a crane mast stop to provide consistent support over a larger range of motion while compressing quickly, addressing the limitations of conventional and hydraulic systems by optimizing space and reducing complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
A floating piston divides the internal cavity into a gas portion biasing the floating piston towards the second housing end
Implementation Method 2
a pressure sensitive valve inhibiting the liquid from flowing from the support portion into the reserve portion when a liquid pressure is below a threshold pressure and allowing the liquid to flow from the support portion to the reserve portion when the liquid is above the threshold pressure
Implementation Method 3
a frangible divider configured to rupture when the liquid pressure exceeds a rupture pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A compressible stop for use in a crane has a housing, a rod slidably mounted within the housing, a floating piston, and a valve assembly. The floating piston divides the housing into a gas portion biasing the floating piston towards an end of the housing and a liquid portion containing a hydraulic fluid. The valve assembly divides the liquid portion into a support portion and a reserve portion. The valve assembly includes a check valve allowing a liquid to flow from the reserve portion into the support portion, a pressure sensitive valve inhibiting the liquid from flowing from the support portion into the reserve portion unless the pressure is above a threshold pressure, and a frangible divider configured to rupture when the liquid pressure exceeds a rupture pressure.