Counterweight Backhoe Dredger for Lower Lifting Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dredging operations using a backhoe experience fluctuating power requirements due to energy dissipation during the dredge cycle, with high power demands during bucket lifting and inefficient energy use, particularly in integrated vessel excavators lacking counterweights.
Innovation Solution
A vessel with an excavator featuring a weight-balanced boom equipped with a counterweight positioned above and aligned with the boom hinge axis during the lowest digging position, allowing energy storage and reuse, and a hydraulic system with the boom cylinder coupled inboard to optimize power distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a counterweight is added to balance the boom weight, then the power requirement during soil lifting is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A counterweight is attached to the boom structure, positioned such that its center of gravity is above and vertically aligned with the boom hinge axis when the bucket is at lowest digging position. This counterweight balances the boom weight, reducing the power requirement during soil lifting by approximately 20% while maintaining digging performance.
2Use of energy by moving object
If energy is stored during bucket lowering and reused during lifting, then energy efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful energy dissipation during bucket lowering into useful potential energy storage by allowing the counterweight to rise. This stored energy is then reused during bucket lifting, improving overall energy efficiency without requiring additional energy storage devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers energy that would otherwise be wasted during the bucket lowering phase. The counterweight mechanism automatically captures and stores this energy as gravitational potential energy, which is then recovered and utilized during the subsequent lifting phase.
3Power
If the counterweight is positioned to balance the boom, then power requirements are reduced, but the stability of the vessel may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight is positioned in a vertical arrangement above the boom hinge axis rather than extending horizontally. This vertical positioning achieves the desired weight balance and power reduction while minimizing the counterweight's impact on the vessel's lateral stability and righting moment.
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
Reduces installed power requirements by about 20% and evenly distributes energy demand across the dredge cycle, improving efficiency and stability without affecting digging performance.
Implementation Method 1
the boom being weight balanced by a counterweight connected to the boom and positioned with respect to the boom such that a centre of gravity of the counterweight is above and about vertically aligned with the boom hinge axis
Implementation Method 2
a hydraulically driven excavator wherein the dead weight of a hydraulic excavator arm is neutralized by attaching a compression spring, leaf spring, tension spring or a counterweight
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vessel comprising an excavator for dredging or shifting soil for cleaning watercourses, the excavator comprising; -a weight balanced boom hingeably supported around a boom hinge axis, -a bucket-arm hingeably connected to the boom,and provided with a bucket and/or digging tool at a free end of the bucket-arm, wherein a counterweight is connected to the boom and wherein the counterweight is positioned with respect to the boom such that a centre of gravity of the counterweight is above and about vertically aligned with the boom hinge axis when the bucket and/or digging tool is at a lowest digging position.