Crane Counterweight Positioning for Stability Without Added Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cranes face challenges in maintaining stability without increasing or decreasing the weight of the counterweight attached to the machine body due to changes in lifting conditions, such as the length of the tiltable body and weight of the hoisted load.
Innovation Solution
A crane design that allows the counterweights to be positioned in multiple locations, including a front and rear position, using a link unit to couple the base weight and counterweights to the slewing frame, enabling adjustment of moments without changing the weight of the counterweights, and utilizing a tilting device to support the boom and mast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the weight of the counterweight is increased to maintain stability against heavier loads, then the lifting capacity and stability are improved, but the transportation convenience and storage requirements deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight system is divided into multiple detachable counterweight modules that can be separately attached and removed from the slewing frame, allowing the crane to be transported without full counterweight assembly while maintaining stability when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The counterweight configuration is made dynamically adjustable through quick-attachment mechanisms, enabling the crane to transition between different counterweight states (full, partial, removed) based on operational requirements versus transportation needs
2Power
If additional counterweights are added to increase the rear moment for heavy loads, then the lifting capacity is improved, but the device complexity and preparation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight system is segmented into standardized modular units that can be independently attached or removed, simplifying the preparation process for different lifting capacities while maintaining the ability to handle heavy loads when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The counterweight configuration parameters (weight, position, number of modules) can be changed by simply attaching or removing modules rather than reconfiguring the entire counterweight system, reducing preparation complexity
3Device complexity
If the counterweight position is fixed to maintain stability, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the adaptability to different lifting conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight position is made adjustable through multiple attachment positions on the slewing frame, allowing the same counterweight module to be repositioned to optimize the rear moment for different lifting conditions while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The slewing frame is designed with multiple universal attachment points that can accommodate counterweight modules at different positions, enabling a single counterweight module to serve multiple functions across different operating conditions
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
Maintains stability of the crane by adjusting the moment based on lifting conditions, preventing the rear end of the slewing frame from bending downward, and enhancing stability in multiple directions without additional weight.
Implementation Method 1
a boom tilting hydraulic cylinder 30 for tilting the boom 16
Implementation Method 2
an upper slewing body 12 having a rear portion on which a weight unit 13 for adjusting a balance of the crane 10 is mounted, and a lower traveling body 14 supporting the upper slewing body 12 so as to slew
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A crane (10) includes: a machine body (12); a tiltable body (16) having a tiltable body proximal end supported on the machine body and being turnable in a tilting direction; a counterweight (13B); a base weight (13A) having a placement surface that allows placement of the counterweight and being detachably attached to the machine body in either at least a front position or a rear position located behind the front position with the base weight projecting rearward further from the machine body than in the front position; and an auxiliary coupling member (70) for coupling a portion of the base weight located in the rear position and the machine body to each other, the portion projecting rearward from the machine body.