Concrete Pump Distribution Mast Arm With Corner Supports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distributor mast arms in mobile concrete pumps face issues with high local stresses in corners due to torsional loads, leading to reduced load-bearing capacity and increased mass, while current solutions either increase material thickness uniformly or result in inefficient material utilization.
Innovation Solution
The distributor mast arm incorporates support profiles with varying wall thickness and/or diameter, featuring tubes or solid profiles at corners, connected to side plates in a bonded and force-transmitting manner, reducing stress concentrations and allowing for optimized material distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thicker side plates are used to counteract high stresses in corners, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but mass increases disproportionately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing support profiles specifically at corner locations where high stresses occur, rather than uniformly thickening the entire side plates. The support profiles have varying wall thicknesses and/or diameters along their length, with thicker sections at high-stress locations and thinner sections elsewhere, optimizing material distribution to provide strength exactly where needed while minimizing overall mass.
2Ease of manufacture
If uniform material thickness is used throughout the side plates, then manufacturing is simplified, but material utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The support profiles feature varying wall thicknesses and/or diameters along their length, with thicker sections positioned at high-stress locations (such as corners) and thinner sections in low-stress areas. This localized variation in material thickness optimizes material utilization by concentrating material where structurally necessary while reducing material in non-critical areas, thereby minimizing material waste without compromising strength.
3Reliability
If corner is formed as a single piece with side plate and rounded, then weld seam shifts to less stressed areas, but stiffness is reduced due to economic constraints on wall thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite construction by combining side plates with separately attached support profiles at the corners. This composite approach allows the support profiles to be optimized independently for both stiffness and stress distribution, achieving high stiffness at corners through the combined structural effect while maintaining economical wall thicknesses. The support profiles with varying cross-sections provide enhanced moment of inertia at critical locations without requiring uniform thickening throughout.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a placing boom arm for a concrete pump, in particular a mobile concrete pump, wherein the placing boom arm comprises a support structure with at least two side walls and wherein the support structure further comprises a support profile. According to the invention, at least two side walls are arranged on the support profile, wherein the support profile is arranged in a corner of the support structure.