Confined Space Crane Base with Dual Engagement Seats

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing confined space cranes require multiple dedicated installation bases for horizontal and vertical surfaces, increasing production and storage costs, complicating transport and installation, and reducing flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A crane system with a versatile installation base featuring a primary engagement seat and an auxiliary engagement seat, allowing the crane's support post to be coupled either perpendicular or parallel to the base, depending on the surface orientation, eliminating the need for multiple bases and simplifying installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dedicated installation bases are provided for horizontal and vertical surfaces, then the crane can be installed on different target surfaces, but production and storage costs increase and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different target surfacesVSAvoidnumber of installation bases
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The installation base is designed with a universal structure that can be used for both horizontal and vertical target surfaces. The base includes a mounting plate with multiple engagement seats arranged at different orientations (horizontal and vertical), allowing the same base to accommodate the support post in different orientations depending on the target surface type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple dedicated installation bases for horizontal and vertical surfaces are merged into a single multi-functional installation base. The mounting plate integrates both horizontal engagement seats and vertical engagement seats, combining the functions of what were previously separate bases into one unified component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dedicated installation bases are provided for horizontal and vertical surfaces, then the crane can be installed on different target surfaces, but transport and installation become more complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different target surfacesVSAvoidease of transport and installation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The universal installation base eliminates the need to transport and select between multiple dedicated bases. The single base handles both horizontal and vertical installations, simplifying logistics and reducing the complexity of selecting the appropriate base during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

By merging multiple bases into one, the number of components to transport is reduced, and the installation process is simplified to a single base configuration rather than requiring selection and assembly of different bases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a single installation base is used for both horizontal and vertical surfaces, then production and storage costs are reduced, but the base must accommodate multiple orientations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of installation basesVSAvoidadaptability to different target surfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting plate is designed as a universal platform with integrated engagement seats for both horizontal and vertical orientations. This allows a single base to maintain full adaptability to different target surfaces while reducing the overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement seats are arranged in different spatial dimensions and orientations on the mounting plate. Horizontal engagement seats are positioned for horizontal post reception, while vertical engagement seats are positioned for vertical post reception, allowing the base to adapt to different orientations through spatial arrangement rather than requiring separate bases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4317045B1Crane for confined spaces and base for installing such crane on corresponding target surfaces of building structures or similar supporting structures
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 GENESI
  • EP4317045B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4317045B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4317045B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a crane (1) for confined spaces comprising: an installation base (2) having at least one fixing portion (3) arranged to be fixed on a target surface of a building structure or similar support structure, and at least one engagement seat (4) that runs predominantly transversely, preferably perpendicularly, with respect to a lying plane of the fixing portion (3); a support post (5) which runs along a prevailing direction and has a first end (5a) arranged to engage the at least one engagement seat (4) of the installation base (2) and a second end (5b) facing away from the first end (5a); a lifting arm (6) engaged to the support post (5), preferably at the second end (5b) of the support post (5), and having at least one cantilevered end (6a); optionally, at least one lifting device (7) removably attached to the support post (5) or to the lifting arm (6), provided with at least one cable (8) having a hook (8a) for hooking a load to be raised or lowered, the lifting device (7) comprising at least one winding mechanism (9) operable for lifting or lowering the hook (8a) and, consequently, the load associated therewith; wherein the installation base (2) additionally includes at least one auxiliary engagement seat (10) arranged to receive in engagement the support post (5) which develops transversely, optionally perpendicularly, with respect to the engagement seat (4), the first end (5a) of the support post (5) of the crane (1) being coupled to the engagement seat (4) or to the auxiliary engagement seat (10) depending on the orientation of the target surface. The engagement seat (4) allows engagement of the first end (5a) of the support post (5) of the crane (1) when the installation base (2) is fixed to a target surface of a building structure or similar horizontal support structure, while the auxiliary engagement seat (10) allows engagement of the first end (5a) of the support post (5) of the crane (1) when the installation base (2) is fixed to a vertical target surface.