Drilling Machine Cable Tension Control via Feedback Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drilling machines face difficulties in maintaining tension of the handling cable during excavation, leading to loosening and subsequent issues such as cable damage, vibrations, and incorrect winding, which can impair the excavation process.

Innovation Solution

A drilling machine with a control system that includes a detection device and a manual selector to detect cable loosening and automatically adjust the winch tension, ensuring the cable remains tensioned during operations, and a reduced pull winding mode to prevent excessive unwinding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the handling cable is allowed to unwind freely during excavation, then the excavation process can proceed without tension control interference, but the cable becomes loose leading to damage, vibrations, and incorrect winding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexcavation process continuityVSAvoidcable integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a detection device that continuously monitors cable tension and provides feedback to the control system. When cable loosening is detected, the control system automatically activates the winch to restore tension, creating a closed-loop feedback control mechanism that prevents cable damage while maintaining excavation continuity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables automatic tension maintenance through the control system that self-regulates winch activation based on detection device signals. The system serves itself by automatically detecting and correcting cable loosening without requiring manual intervention, thus preventing cable damage while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the winch is activated to maintain cable tension continuously, then the cable remains properly tensioned preventing damage and vibrations, but the system complexity increases with additional control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable tension maintenanceVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system employs a feedback mechanism where the detection device monitors cable tension and triggers winch activation only when loosening is detected. This conditional feedback control maintains cable reliability while avoiding continuous winch operation, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity to essential control components only

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical tension monitoring and adjustment with an automated detection and control system. This substitution reduces the need for complex mechanical tensioning mechanisms while achieving reliable cable tension maintenance through electronic sensing and control

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

3Speed

If the winch unwinds the cable quickly during excavation descent, then the excavation process is more efficient, but the cable may become loose and cause vibrations and incorrect winding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable unwinding speedVSAvoidcable vibrations
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The detection device provides real-time feedback on cable tension status during the unwinding process. When cable loosening or excessive speed is detected, the control system modulates the winch operation to restore proper tension, preventing vibrations and incorrect winding while allowing efficient unwinding during normal operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system operates in periodic cycles of monitoring and correction. The detection device continuously monitors cable tension, and the control system periodically activates the winch to maintain tension, creating a rhythmic pattern of monitoring and adjustment that prevents harmful vibrations while maintaining efficient excavation speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 system effectively reduces the risk of cable loosening, prevents damage, and ensures proper winding, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of the excavation process by maintaining cable tension and preventing vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

a detection device and a manual selector to detect cable loosening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTension detection: Tension

Implementation Method 2

The transmission of the axial thrust between the rods therefore takes place by means of the friction between the strips of the rods that is generated in the presence of torque

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

ensuring the cable remains tensioned during operations, and a reduced pull winding mode to prevent excessive unwinding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3293351B1Drilling machine
Publication Date: 2022.04.20 SOILMEC SPA
  • EP3293351B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3293351B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3293351B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Drilling machine (1) comprising: a string of telescopic rods (12) provided with an excavation tool (15); a winch comprising a drum (8) associated with a motor (23); a cable (9) connected on the one hand to the drum (8) and on the other hand to the string of telescopic rods (12); a manual control element (16) of the winch and a control system (23) configured for controlling the motor (23), in a first operating mode, so as to unwind the cable (9) from the drum (8), wind the cable (9) on the drum (8) in order to raise the string of telescopic rods (12), and stop the drum (8); wherein in a second operating mode the control system is configured for controlling the motor (23), so as to wind the cable (9) on the drum (8) in order to tension the cable (9) without raising the string of telescopic rods.