Dual Crane Apparatus for Mobile Irrigation Servicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for servicing mobile irrigation systems, such as changing tires and gearboxes, are labor-intensive, dangerous, and time-consuming, often requiring multiple people and the use of hazardous jacks in muddy and slippery conditions.
Innovation Solution
A dual crane apparatus with a support frame and two rotating crane members that can move vertically, extend/retract horizontally, and rotate, allowing for safe and efficient tire or gearbox replacement by a single user, eliminating the need for jacks and providing a portable system for tool and spare part transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional jacks and manual methods are used to service mobile irrigation systems, then equipment repair can be performed, but the process becomes dangerous, labor-intensive, and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical jack system with a hydraulic crane system. The crane uses hydraulic cylinders to lift and position heavy components like tires and gearboxes, substituting manual mechanical lifting with powered hydraulic actuation. This eliminates the dangerous jack-sliding problem while reducing physical effort required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a crane as an intermediary device between the worker and the heavy components. Instead of directly handling tires and gearboxes, the worker operates the crane to manipulate these heavy objects, creating a safe buffer that eliminates direct physical strain and dangerous manual positioning.
2Force
If multiple people are used to manually handle heavy tires and gearboxes, then the heavy components can be moved, but the labor intensity and time required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human muscle power with a hydraulic-powered crane system. The hydraulic cylinders provide the force needed to lift and position heavy tires and gearboxes, eliminating the need for multiple workers while dramatically reducing the time required for component replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The crane system is designed to be self-powered through hydraulic actuation, eliminating the need for external assistance. The system performs its own lifting and positioning functions autonomously once controlled by a single operator, making the servicing process self-sufficient and highly efficient.
3Stability of the object's composition
If wooden boards are used to create a stable surface for the jack, then the jack has a better resting surface, but the boards quickly become muddy and slippery causing the jack to slide off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the jack-on-boards system with a crane system that does not require a stable ground surface. The crane's lifting mechanism is designed to work effectively even on muddy terrain, eliminating the dependency on stable positioning surfaces and the associated hazards of slippery boards.
Solution Approach 2:
The crane acts as an intermediary that transfers the lifting function from the ground surface to a mobile platform. This eliminates the need for the ground surface to provide stability, as the crane's own structure provides the stable base for lifting operations, regardless of ground conditions.
4Ease of operation
If a single person attempts to service the irrigation system without assistance, then labor requirements are reduced, but the task becomes practically impossible due to the extreme weight of components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human physical strength with hydraulic power. The hydraulic cylinders provide sufficient force to lift and position extremely heavy tires and gearboxes, enabling a single person to perform tasks that would otherwise require multiple strong workers. The system converts hydraulic pressure into mechanical lifting force.
Solution Approach 2:
The crane serves as a force-multiplying intermediary between the single operator and the heavy components. The hydraulic system amplifies the operator's control inputs into powerful lifting and positioning forces, allowing one person to manipulate objects that would otherwise be immovable without mechanical assistance.
Data Source
AI summary
A dual crane apparatus and a method of use are disclosed herein. The disclosed dual crane apparatus generally comprises a support frame and two rotating crane members mounted to the support frame, wherein the crane members can each independently move up and down in a vertical direction, extend and retract in a horizontal direction, and rotate clockwise and counterclockwise. The disclosed dual crane apparatus can be utilized for servicing mobile irrigation systems.