Deflectable Cable Coupling Device for Construction Boom Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction machines, such as cable excavators and cranes, face safety risks due to unintentional swinging of the hoist rope end, which can cause injuries and damage to the boom, rope, or anchor points, especially during movement or jib pivoting, and existing safety measures may lead to excessive tension or strain on these components.
Innovation Solution
A cable coupling device with a deflectable coupling element and a sensor to detect its deflected position, along with an adjustable brake and switch, is used to fasten the hoist rope and monitor for impending overload, preventing damage and ensuring safe operation by limiting boom adjustments when excessive tension is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hoist rope end is fastened to the boom or carrier vehicle to prevent swinging, then safety against injury is improved, but excessive tension or strain on the boom, rope, or anchor point occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A coupling element is introduced as an intermediary between the hoist rope and the boom/carrier vehicle. This coupling element can deflect or pivot, allowing the rope end to move relative to the attachment point, thereby preventing excessive tension while still containing the rope end to avoid injury hazards
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element is designed to be deflectable or pivotable, providing dynamic movement capability. This allows the system to adapt to changing positions during operation, compensating for rope movement and preventing static over-tensioning of the boom and rope
2Reliability
If the coupling element is made deflectable to compensate rope movements, then damage risk to boom and rope is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is segmented into distinct functional components: a base for mounting, a deflectable coupling element for rope attachment, and a sensor for monitoring. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall design while maintaining the required deflectability and safety monitoring capabilities
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
The solution significantly reduces the risk of injury and damage by compensating for rope movements, detecting impending overload, and providing a warning or control signal to limit unsafe operations, thereby ensuring safe and stable operation of the construction machine.
Implementation Method 1
the cable coupling device has a sensor for detecting a deflected position of the coupling element
Implementation Method 2
The rotational movement or deflection movement of the coupling element about the pivot axis can be reduced by the adjustable brake to such an extent that brief, strong deflections of the coupling element and/or vibrations of the same are prevented. The braking force of the brake can be adjustable by means of a spring, for example. The coupling element thus moves against a frictional force relative to the base
Data Source
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AI summary
The apparatus has a carrier vehicle which is adjustably mounted on a boom. A lifting cable is guided on the carrier vehicle. A pulley is provided on the boom through which a winch is passed. A cantilever is arranged on the rope steering device (40) for securing the free end portion of the lifting cable. The rope steering device is provided with a deflectable base (41) on which coupling element (46) is mounted. The rope steering device is provided is provided with sensor for sensing a deflection position of the coupling element. An independent claim is included for method for operating construction apparatus.