Crane Silo Dosing Device Actuation via Hydraulic Piston

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Solution Overview

Problem

The handling of building materials via a conveyor hose from a crane silo is cumbersome and poses safety risks due to the need for manual operation and the instability of the dosing device, which affects the balance and accessibility, leading to inefficient and unsafe working conditions.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic piston-cylinder unit is used to actuate the dosing device on the conveyor hose, utilizing a gas accumulator to generate counterpressure for opening and closing the conveying cross-section, allowing for controlled and reliable operation with a controllable hydraulic pump system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If manual operation of the dosing device is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates and safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing device operationVSAvoiddosing device handling
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated piston-cylinder unit that uses hydraulic or pneumatic pressure to open and close the dosing device. This substitution eliminates the need for manual handling while maintaining device functionality, directly resolving the contradiction between simplicity and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the dosing device is made adjustable on the conveying area, then adaptability improves, but stability of the system deteriorates due to balance changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing device adjustmentVSAvoidcrane silo balance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a counterweight mechanism that compensates for the changing weight distribution when the dosing device is adjusted. The counterweight system automatically balances the crane silo as the dosing device moves to different positions, maintaining stability while preserving full adjustability for different conveying requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Reliability

If a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit with gas accumulator is used, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing device actuationVSAvoidactuation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a hydraulic or pneumatic piston-cylinder unit with a gas accumulator to actuate the dosing device. This system provides reliable, controlled movement through fluid pressure while using the gas accumulator to store energy and maintain consistent operation. The complexity is justified by the significant improvement in reliability and controlled operation of the dosing device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

This solution simplifies and stabilizes the operation of the dosing device, enhancing safety and efficiency by providing a reliable and balanced actuation mechanism that reduces manual effort and improves handling of building materials, thus improving operational performance and safety.

Implementation Method 1

by means of a piston-cylinder unit that can be acted upon by a hydraulic pump by means of a hydraulic force compressing a gas with the opening movement for a prestressed closing movement of the dosing device into a counterforce to the opening movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic force: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

a controllable hydraulics pump line-connected to a piston-cylinder unit separating a piston into two cylinder chambers with the first cylinder space for receiving a liquid medium and the cylinder space behind the piston to generate a closing pressure on a gas storage facility connected as a counterpressure means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas compression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP2465655B1Method for emptying a crane silo for holding and suspended transport of bulk construction material
Publication Date: 2015.02.18 OBRIST BAUGERATE
  • EP2465655B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2465655B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2465655B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves forming filling opening in the upper end and forming discharge opening (3) for removal of building material in lower end of crane silo (1). The discharge opening of container (2) is operatively connected to conveying hose (5), to face the conveyor region for closing and opening the adjustable metering device (8). The opening of metering device forms a conveying cross section of delivery hose with opening movement. The gas for pre-stressed closing movement of metering device in counterforce with closing pressure is compressed for the opening movement. An independent claim is included for crane silo.