Electric Drive Telescopic Boom Joint for Work Machine Design Freedom

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing designs of telescopic booms in work machines, particularly cranes, have a reduced degree of freedom due to the reliance on hydraulic systems, limiting design flexibility and operational capabilities.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an electric drive system with a joint that allows both drive-side and driven-side elements to rotate together or independently, enabling the telescopic boom to extend and retract using an actuator, an electric drive source, and an operating unit, thereby reducing dependence on hydraulic circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a hydraulic circuit is provided around the telescopic boom to operate hydraulic actuators, then the telescopic boom can be extended and retracted, but the degree of freedom in design around the telescopic boom is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedegree of freedom in designVSAvoidhydraulic circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the hydraulic circuit from the telescopic boom structure and relocates it to the turntable. This separation removes the constraint that hydraulic lines imposed on the boom's design freedom, allowing the boom to be configured more flexibly without being bound by hydraulic routing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional hydraulic actuation system with an electric drive system consisting of an electric motor, transmission mechanism, and pin moving mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for hydraulic circuits around the boom, thereby improving design freedom while maintaining the telescopic function.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If a hydraulic actuator is used to move boom connecting pins and cylinder connecting pins, then the telescopic boom can be operated, but the design flexibility is limited by the hydraulic system requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoidhydraulic system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces hydraulic actuators with an electric motor-driven transmission mechanism and pin moving mechanisms. This substitution eliminates hydraulic lines and associated components, providing greater design flexibility in arranging the telescopic boom structure without being constrained by hydraulic routing.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the actuation function from hydraulic components and implements it through an electric drive system. The electric motor and transmission mechanism are positioned on the turntable, separating the actuation system from the boom structure itself, thereby freeing the boom design from hydraulic system constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If hydraulic circuits are placed around the telescopic boom, then the actuators can be supplied with pressure oil, but the operational capabilities and design freedom are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidhydraulic circuit arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the hydraulic circuit arrangement with an electric drive system comprising an electric motor, transmission mechanism, and pin moving mechanisms. This substitution improves operational efficiency by eliminating hydraulic fluid dynamics constraints while simplifying the overall system arrangement and increasing design freedom.

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

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

This solution enhances the design flexibility and operational efficiency of telescopic booms by allowing for more precise control and reduced hydraulic system complexity, improving the overall performance and versatility of work machines.

Implementation Method 1

an electric drive source that is provided in the actuator and drives using power supplied from a power source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a joint that has a drive-side element fixed to a first transmission shaft and a driven-side element fixed to a second transmission shaft, the joint being able to take a transmission state in which both the drive-side element and the driven-side element rotate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical transmission: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP3950564B1Work machine
Publication Date: 2025.03.26 TADANO LTD
  • EP3950564B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3950564B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2F
  • EP3950564B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A work machine includes: an actuator that extends and retracts a telescopic boom; an electric drive source that is provided in the actuator and drives using power supplied from a power source; an operating unit that operates based on power of the electric drive source; and a joint that has a drive-side element fixed to a first transmission shaft that rotates on the basis of the power of the electric drive source and a driven-side element fixed to a second transmission shaft connected to the operating unit, the joint being able to take a transmission state in which both the drive-side element and the driven-side element rotate and a non-transmission state in which only either the drive-side element or the driven-side element rotates.