Crane Positioning System Using Sensor Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial cranes used for lifting and handling heavy payloads face challenges in accurate positioning and alignment, leading to safety risks and inefficiencies due to reliance on operator visibility and manual alignment, which can result in accidents and equipment damage.
Innovation Solution
A positioning system comprising a support with a first and second positioning member, each capable of independent or coordinated movement along longitudinal and transverse axes, utilizing motors and sensors for precise positioning, and a control system that includes positional markers and a sensor system for accurate alignment and obstacle detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual alignment and operator visibility are used for positioning, then the system is simple to operate, but positioning precision and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated sensor-based positioning system. Sensors detect positional markers to determine the crane's location, and a control system automatically adjusts positioning, eliminating reliance on operator visibility and manual alignment while significantly improving positioning precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces positional markers as intermediaries between the sensor system and the crane positioning. These markers serve as reference points that sensors detect to calculate precise position, enabling accurate positioning without direct visual observation by operators
2Reliability
If ground personnel manually align the load with the crane, then equipment complexity is reduced, but safety risks increase due to proximity to heavy objects
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system performs self-alignment by using sensors to detect positional markers and automatically calculating the crane's position. The control system then autonomously adjusts positioning without requiring ground personnel to manually align the load, eliminating their exposure to dangerous zones while maintaining high safety standards
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual alignment process with an automated sensor-based system that detects positional markers and uses control algorithms to achieve precise positioning, thereby eliminating the need for ground personnel to work in proximity to heavy moving objects
3Measurement precision
If the crane is moved to achieve precise alignment, then positioning accuracy improves, but operation time increases due to manual maneuvering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing a network of positional markers throughout the workspace before operations begin. These markers are预先 positioned to provide reference points for the sensor system, enabling rapid and accurate positioning without time-consuming manual measurement and alignment procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual crane maneuvering with an automated system where sensors rapidly detect positional markers and the control system calculates optimal positioning, dramatically reducing the time required to achieve precise alignment while maintaining high accuracy
4Measurement precision
If operators rely on visibility to control crane movement, then the system requires minimal technology, but visibility obstructions lead to positioning errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes visual observation with sensor-based detection. Sensors mounted on the crane detect positional markers in the environment, providing electronic position data that is processed by the control system to achieve precise positioning independent of operator visibility or environmental obstructions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces positional markers as intermediaries that facilitate position detection. These markers serve as detectable reference points for the sensor system, enabling accurate positioning through sensor detection rather than visual observation, thereby overcoming visibility limitations
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a positioning system for a lifting apparatus. The positioning system comprises a movable support having a longitudinal axis. The system comprises a first positioning member movably mounted to the support, wherein the first positioning member comprises a first axis and a second axis and is configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the support with the first axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support. The system also comprises a second positioning member mounted to the first positioning member and configured to move transversely to the first axis of the first positioning member.