Concrete Pump Stability Monitoring with Sensor-Failure Fallback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thick matter conveying systems face instability issues due to unreliable sensor operations, leading to unnecessary shutdowns and operational inefficiencies, particularly in concrete pumping where rapid curing can cause damage and complicate construction work.

Innovation Solution

A thick matter conveying system with a sensor unit and processing unit that verifies sensor operation, using extreme values to determine stability parameters when sensors fail, ensuring reliable operation without redundant components and avoiding shutdowns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sensor data is used for stability monitoring, then operational efficiency is improved, but reliability deteriorates when sensor defects occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidstability monitoring reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system stores extreme values (minimum and maximum) for each operational parameter beforehand. When a sensor defect is detected, these pre-stored extreme values are used as substitute data to maintain stability monitoring, cushioning against the reliability loss from sensor failure without interrupting operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of relying on potentially defective sensor readings, the system creates substitute data by copying and using extreme values from historical operational data. This copying mechanism provides backup information that maintains monitoring functionality when original sensor data becomes unreliable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If sensor defects cause shutdowns, then safety is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to unnecessary interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoperational continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses copied extreme values from historical data to substitute defective sensor readings, allowing stability assessment to continue without shutdowns. This maintains productivity while preserving safety through alternative data sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system serves itself by using its own historical operational data (extreme values) to compensate for sensor failures. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external backup sensors or manual intervention, maintaining both safety and operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If redundant sensors are added, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding physical redundant sensors, the system creates virtual redundancy by copying and storing extreme values from operational parameters. This software-based approach provides backup data capabilities without the hardware complexity of additional sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses inexpensive computational resources to store and process extreme values as substitute data, replacing the need for expensive redundant sensor hardware. This disposable computational approach is cheaper and simpler than permanent hardware redundancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS12509892B2Fail-safe stability monitoring function for a thick matter conveying system
Publication Date: 2025.12.30 PUTZMEISTER ENG GMBH
  • US12509892B2 patent drawing
  • US12509892B2 patent drawing
  • US12509892B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to, inter alia, a thick matter conveying system (10) comprising a thick matter pump (16) for conveying a thick matter; a thick matter distributing mast (18) for distributing the thick matter to be conveyed, said thick matter distributing mast (18) having a rotary mechanism (19) which can be rotated about a vertical axis and a mast assembly (40) comprising at least two mast arms (41); a substructure (30) on which the thick matter distributing mast (18) and the thick matter pump (16) are arranged, said substructure (30) comprising a support structure (31) for supporting the substructure (30) by means of at least one horizontally and/or vertically movable support leg (32); a sensor unit (11) comprising at least one sensor for detecting a piece of operating information; and a processing unit (12) for determining a stability parameter of the thick matter conveying system (10) on the basis of the at least one detected piece of operating information and for ascertaining an intended operation of the sensor of the sensor unit (11), said sensor detecting the at least one piece of operating information. If the processing unit (12) does not ascertain an intended operation of the sensor, the processing unit (12) is designed to determine the stability parameter on the basis of an extreme value of the operating information to be detected by the sensor instead of the detected piece of operating information.