Counterweight Hitching Device with Spherical Hinge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current counterweight hitching systems for wheeled cranes require large mounting spaces and involve inefficient operations, often necessitating multiple operators and risking oil leakage or piston rod failure due to rigid connections and complex alignment processes.

Innovation Solution

A combined counterweight hitching device featuring a turntable tail framework with a lifting oil cylinder, a hitching driving mechanism, and a spherical hinge to facilitate convenient mounting and demounting without rotating the entire crane, utilizing a horizontal oil cylinder and annular structure to reduce space requirements and prevent side loads on the piston rod.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the lifting oil cylinder is driven by a turntable to rotate to enable the hitching platform to enter the hitching platform groove, then the counterweight can be mounted, but the mounting space becomes large and the working efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting reliabilityVSAvoidmounting space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The hitching driving mechanism is divided into independent components: a horizontal oil cylinder for lateral movement, a lifting oil cylinder for vertical movement, and a spherical hinge for angular adjustment. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function independently, eliminating the need for large-scale turntable rotation and reducing the mounting space required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the hitching platform is rigidly connected to the piston rod and the counterweight is located by the oil cylinder, then the mounting can be achieved, but the piston rod bears offset load force and is subjected to oil leakage or even failure when working for a long time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting easeVSAvoidpiston rod reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the hitching platform and piston rod is changed from rigid to flexible through the introduction of a spherical hinge. This allows the connection to adapt to angular deviations and offset loads, preventing the piston rod from bearing harmful side forces that would cause oil leakage or failure during prolonged operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If a plurality of position detecting devices are provided to accurately locate the lifting oil cylinder and the mounting hole, then the mounting can be achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses self-aligning features such as the spherical hinge and the geometric constraints of the hitching platform groove to automatically achieve accurate positioning. The structure itself provides the alignment function without requiring external position detecting devices, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution enables faster, more convenient mounting and demounting of counterweights with reduced space requirements and prevents oil leakage or piston rod failure by using a spherical hinge and horizontal oil cylinder, improving operational efficiency and safety.

Implementation Method 1

a spherical hinge to facilitate convenient mounting and demounting without rotating the entire crane, utilizing a horizontal oil cylinder and annular structure to reduce space requirements and prevent side loads on the piston rod

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpherical hinge: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

utilizing a horizontal oil cylinder and annular structure to reduce space requirements and prevent side loads on the piston rod

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure to linear motion conversion: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP3150545B1Combined counterweight hooking apparatus and method, and counterweight mounting structure
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 XUZHOU HEAVY MASCH CO LTD
  • EP3150545B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3150545B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4B
  • EP3150545B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a combined counterweight hitching device and method thereof, and a counterweight mounting structure. The combined counterweight hitching device is mounted on a turntable tail framework, wherein the combined counterweight hitching device includes a turntable tail framework bottom plate, a lifting oil cylinder, a lifting oil cylinder fixing seat and a hitching driving mechanism, the turntable tail framework bottom plate is fixed on the turntable tail framework, the lifting oil cylinder fixing seat is arranged on the upper surface of the turntable tail framework bottom plate and is hinged with the turntable tail framework bottom plate, the lifting oil cylinder is fixed at one end of the lifting oil cylinder fixing seat, the one end distal to a point on which the turntable tail framework bottom plate is hinged with the lifting oil cylinder fixing seat, a hitching platform is mounted at a piston rod end of the lifting oil cylinder, and the hitching driving mechanism is connected with the lifting oil cylinder fixing seat, and drives the lifting oil cylinder fixing seat to make the hitching platform enter a hitching platform groove on the counterweight to complete a hitching operation. By adopting the combined counterweight hitching device and method, and the counterweight mounting structure provided by the present invention, the mounting and demounting of the combined counterweight are more convenient, and the mounting space is smaller.