Crane Stabilizer Pad With Integrated Lifting And Stacking Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stabilizer mats, or crane mats, are difficult to move and position due to their heavy weight, posing safety risks and inefficiencies in lifting and stacking, with existing lifting features often restricting access and compromising the mat's surface area and integrity.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates lifting components on the sides and centrally located components that securely hold straps or rods for hoisting, and stacking components for modular alignment, preventing strap loss and damage, and allowing easy handling of multiple mats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stabilizer mats are made heavy to provide stable foundation and protect ground, then stability and ground protection are improved, but ease of moving and positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer mat system is divided into multiple individual mats that can be handled separately. Each mat is equipped with its own lifting components, allowing operators to move and position mats individually or in stacks, reducing the physical strain and safety risks associated with moving single heavy mats.
Solution Approach 2:
Lifting components serve as intermediary elements between the heavy stabilizer mats and the lifting equipment (cranes, forklifts). These components provide attachment points for slings, chains, or other lifting mechanisms, enabling safe and efficient movement of the heavy mats without direct manual handling.
2Ease of operation
If lifting features are recessed in the sides of the mat, then lifting capability is achieved, but access to lifting features and surface area for load distribution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Lifting components are positioned at the corners or edges of the mat rather than recessed in the sides. This dimensional repositioning allows lifting features to be accessible from the sides or top of the mat while maintaining the full surface area of the mat for load distribution. The lifting components protrude or are positioned at the perimeter, enabling attachment without compromising the platform surface.
3Productivity
If multiple mats are stacked and hoisted together, then productivity is improved, but difficulty of securing and aligning mats increases
Solution Approach 1:
All mats in the stack are equipped with identical lifting components in the same positions. This standardization allows the same lifting technique and attachment method to be used for each mat, simplifying the stacking and hoisting process. Operators can consistently apply the same procedure regardless of which mat they are attaching, reducing complexity and improving efficiency when handling multiple mats.
Solution Approach 2:
Lifting components are pre-positioned and secured to each mat before stacking. This preliminary attachment ensures that when mats are stacked, the lifting features are already in place and properly aligned, eliminating the need for complex field adjustments or repositioning during the stacking and hoisting operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A stabilizer pad or crane mat comprising lifting components configured to cooperate with, guide into position, and securely hold a strap or rod used to lift or hoist the pad, and stacking components configured to cooperate with, guide into position, and securely hold an accompanying stabilizer pad when stacked together.