Crane Work Basket with Redundant Hoist Ropes and Angle Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cranes designed for material transport face administrative hurdles and reduced flexibility when used for personnel transport, requiring additional safety measures like redundant suspension elements to comply with machine guidelines, which increases operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A device for transporting people using a crane, featuring two hoist ropes with independent guidance over a pulley head and deflection pulley, a connecting element with an angle sensor, and a crane controller/regulator, allowing for safe personnel and material transport with enhanced safety features like load moment limitation and emergency stop functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a material crane is used to transport people, then existing crane equipment can be utilized, but additional safety measures and administrative work are required
Solution Approach 1:
The safety system is segmented into independent redundant hoist ropes (first and second hoist ropes) with separate guidance paths over the pulley head and deflection pulley. This segmentation allows each rope to function independently, so that failure of one rope does not compromise the entire system, thereby enabling people transport without requiring complete system redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The crane is designed with universal capability to transport both materials and people using the same equipment. The dual hoist rope system and work basket configuration allow the crane to switch between material handling mode and personnel transport mode, eliminating the need for separate dedicated equipment while maintaining safety requirements
2Reliability
If redundant suspension elements are added to ensure safety, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Redundancy is applied locally at critical suspension points through the dual hoist rope configuration. Each rope is guided independently over the pulley head and deflection pulley, creating localized safety zones where failure of one rope does not affect the other. This targeted local redundancy provides safety without requiring complete system duplication
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates beforehand cushioning through the redundant hoist rope arrangement and work basket design. If one rope fails, the second rope is already in place to prevent catastrophic failure and protect personnel. This pre-built safety buffer eliminates the need for complex active safety systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If two hoist ropes are used with independent guidance, then safety and versatility are improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control functions for both hoist ropes are merged into a single integrated crane controller/regulator. The controller manages the winding and unwinding of both ropes through the pulley head and deflection pulley system, coordinating their movement to maintain proper alignment and tension. This unified control approach simplifies operation compared to managing two separate systems
Data Source
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AI summary
The device has a crane boom (2), a crane control or regulation unit, a lifting cables (4,5), a roller head (3) and a deflection roller (6), where a working cage (20) is connected with the two lifting cables through a connecting element (7). The connecting element comprises an inclination sensor (8), which communicates with the crane control or regulation unit through a cable (11) and supplies power. A deviation of the orientation of the connecting element is detected from the horizontal by the inclination sensor.