Crane Burden Positioning via Tag Line Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual control of burdens suspended from cranes is inefficient and unsafe due to external physical impacts like wind and waves, leading to repeated positioning issues and safety risks during assembly tasks, especially for large wind turbines.
Innovation Solution
A method using actuators on winches to automatically control the position of burdens through signals from measuring devices, processed by a central monitoring and control unit, which adjusts tag lines to maintain precise positioning despite external influences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual control of tag lines is used by crane operator, then the burden can be positioned, but the positioning is inefficient and requires repeated adjustments due to elastic give way of tag lines under tensile forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical control system with an automated control system that uses sensors to detect burden position and a control unit to automatically adjust tag line lengths via actuators, eliminating the need for manual intervention and repeated positioning adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the burden's position using measuring devices and feeds this information back to the control unit, which automatically adjusts the tag lines to maintain precise positioning, preventing the elastic give way problem that occurs with manual control
2Reliability
If manual control is used, then the operator can visually monitor the burden position, but sudden shifts of the burden create safety risks when personnel are present at assembly points
Solution Approach 1:
The automated control system continuously monitors burden position through sensors and immediately responds to any deviations, preventing sudden shifts that would occur with manual control where the operator can only react after visually detecting a shift
Solution Approach 2:
The system autonomously maintains burden position without requiring continuous human attention or intervention, automatically compensating for external disturbances like wind and waves to prevent hazardous sudden movements
3Manufacturing precision
If tag lines are used to control burden position, then the burden can be maintained in desired position, but the tag lines give way elastically during considerable tensile forces requiring compensatory adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously measures the actual burden position and compares it to the desired position, automatically adjusting tag line lengths in real-time to compensate for elastic give way and maintain precise positioning despite varying tensile forces
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts tag line lengths in response to changing forces and conditions, using actuators to actively compensate for elastic deformation rather than relying on static tag line lengths
4Productivity
If automated control with measuring devices and central monitoring unit is implemented, then precise and efficient positioning is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to handle multiple functions including position monitoring, automatic tag line adjustment, and compensation for external disturbances through a single integrated system, reducing overall complexity despite the automation capabilities
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4
AI summary
There is disclosed a method for automatic control of the position of a burden (8) suspended in a main wire (6) of a crane (2), where the burden (8) is connected with at least two tag lines (24, 25, 30, 31) which respectively is connected to a number of winches (26, 27, 32, 33) corresponding to the number of tag lines (24, 25, 30, 31), which is characterized in, that the control of the position and rotation of the burden is performed by actuators (28, 29, 34, 35) on the respective winces (26, 27, 32, 33) which perform ease off / tightening of the respective tag lines (24, 25, 30, 31) from signals of at least tone measuring unit (46) with signal transmitter located on the burden (8) measuring angles, changes in angles over time which is transmitted to and processed in a central monitoring- and control unit (36) which performs control of rotation and position of the burden (8) by multiple transmitting of compensatory control signals to relevant actuators (28, 29, 34, 35) for tag lines (24, 25, 30, 31) and the crane main wire (6), from multiple burden of signals which are processed in the central monitoring- and control unit (36). Hereby is enabled possibility to guide and control the position of the burden (8) even if it is imposed of external random impacts, as wind and sea. Further the method is useable in positioning the burden (8) in correct mounting position.