Crane Vehicle Winch Speed Control via Weight Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crane vehicle winch control systems, such as those described in Patent Literature 1 and 2, face inefficiencies in lifting off the ground due to slow winch speeds and lack of speed adjustment during full-lever operations, leading to prolonged lifting times and potential damage from sudden weight application.
Innovation Solution
A crane vehicle equipped with a winch device that includes an operation unit, weight detection unit, storage unit, and control unit, which performs feedback control to adjust winch speed based on a time-weight target characteristic, ensuring the winch operates at an appropriate speed corresponding to the operation amount, regardless of full-lever operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the winch operates at a constant very slow speed to prevent impact weight, then the crane vehicle is protected from damage, but the lifting time is prolonged significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The winch speed is changed from a static constant value to a dynamic variable that adapts to real-time operational conditions. The control unit adjusts the winch speed based on detected weight fluctuations, allowing the system to optimize between protection and efficiency dynamically during the lifting process.
Solution Approach 2:
The winch operating parameter (speed) is changed from a fixed constant to a variable parameter. By modifying the speed parameter in response to weight detection feedback, the system achieves both impact prevention during critical phases and accelerated lifting during safe phases.
2Reliability
If the winch operates at a very slow speed to ensure safe lifting, then impact weight is prevented, but the completion of lifting off the ground takes a long time
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors weight fluctuations detected by the weight detection unit and uses this feedback to adjust winch speed in real-time. This closed-loop feedback system enables the winch to operate slowly only when necessary for safety while accelerating when conditions permit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary slow-speed operation to safely initiate lifting and prevent impact, then transitions to higher speeds once the lifting process is established and safe, optimizing the overall time while maintaining safety during critical initial phases.
3Productivity
If the winch speed is increased to reduce lifting time, then productivity improves, but impact weight may damage the crane vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The weight detection unit provides continuous feedback on the lifting process state, enabling the control unit to monitor for signs of impending impact and adjust winch speed accordingly, allowing high-speed operation when safe and slow operation when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The winch speed transitions from a static high value to a dynamic variable that responds to real-time conditions, enabling the system to achieve high productivity when conditions allow while automatically reducing speed to prevent damage when conditions require caution.
4Productivity
If a full-lever operation is made at start-up for rapid lifting, then lifting speed increases, but the crane vehicle may be damaged due to sudden weight application
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses weight detection feedback to automatically modulate the winch speed response to full-lever operations, preventing the dangerous combination of maximum speed demand and maximum structural stress while still enabling rapid lifting when conditions permit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary weight detection and speed modulation before full-speed lifting begins, preparing the system for rapid lifting while preventing sudden weight application through controlled initial acceleration based on detected conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A crane vehicle includes: an operation unit; a winch device configured to operate at a speed corresponding to an operation amount of the operation unit, to wind up and feed out a wire rope to which a hook is fixed; a weight detection unit configured to detect a weight of a lifting load; a storage unit configured to store a time-weight target characteristic indicating a target in temporal change of a detected value at the weight detection unit for a maximum operation amount input from the operation unit; and a control unit configured to perform feedback control of an operation speed of the winch device such that the detected value follows the time-weight target characteristic in a case where the maximum operation amount is input from the operation unit, the control unit being configured to set the operation speed of the winch device at the speed corresponding to the operation amount of the operation unit, in a case where fluctuation of the detected value has converged in a predetermined range. Thus, provided is the crane vehicle in which automatic control is performed for an appropriate winch operation, regardless of a full-lever operation made at winch start-up.