Crane Hoist Rope Drum Helical Winding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing crane hoist systems face challenges in minimizing wear on cable strands due to the need for multiple deflection pulleys, which increases with lifting height, limiting the simplification of load-calmed crane hoisting mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a crane hoist design where at least one rope strand is wound helically onto the rope drum at a skew angle, keeping the pitch angle constant over the lifting height, allowing the strand to run directly to the load handling device without additional deflection pulleys, and utilizing a third strand in the middle plane for stabilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cable strands are routed directly from the cable drum to the load handling device without deflection pulleys, then the number of bending cycles is reduced and wear is minimized, but the slip angle increases with lifting height causing improper functioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrane hoist functioningVSAvoidnumber of deflection pulleys
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cable drum is designed with a conical surface where the winding radius varies with height. As the load is lifted and the drum rotates, the winding point naturally migrates toward the periphery, dynamically adjusting the cable angle to maintain a constant slip angle throughout the lifting range, eliminating the need for deflection pulleys

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drum surface geometry is changed from cylindrical to conical, altering the winding parameters (radius and angle) as a function of height. This parameter change ensures that the slip angle remains constant despite variations in lifting height, allowing direct routing without additional pulleys

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the number of deflection pulleys is minimized to reduce wear, then cable strand wear is reduced, but the slip angle increases with lifting height

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable strand service lifeVSAvoidslip angle control
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The conical drum surface enables dynamic adjustment of the winding geometry. As the drum rotates during lifting, the effective winding radius increases, which dynamically compensates for the increasing height and maintains a constant slip angle, extending cable life without compromising angle control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drum surface is effectively segmented into different radial zones (inner near the axis, outer near the periphery) that are utilized at different heights. This segmentation allows the system to transition from inner to outer zones as lifting progresses, maintaining optimal slip angle throughout the range

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2703332B1Crane hoist
Publication Date: 2015.08.12 SCHEFFER KRANTECHN
  • EP2703332B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2703332B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2703332B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The crane hoisting gear (10) has cable drive (12) having ropes which are hung from rope drum (18) to lifting attachment and are displaced against each other along the drum axles portions of common rope drum or rope drums which are drive-connected by common drum axle. The ropes are bent around a drift angle opposite the vertical center plane between drum portions. The pitch angles of windings (24) correspond to drift angles.