Connecting Support Member Grip for Excavator Cab Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Servicing workers in small hydraulic excavators face instability and inefficiency while cleaning the rear face of the cab due to the lack of a stable handrail, as they must climb onto the crawler belt to reach the rear window, and the existing louver between support members does not provide sufficient support.
Innovation Solution
A connecting support member is introduced, formed as a grip portion that can be used as a handrail when the housing door is open, extending between the front and rear support members, and can be accommodated in the machine room when closed, enhancing stability and accessibility for cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a louver with stays is provided between support members, then the rigidity of support members is enhanced, but the louver cannot serve as a hand-rail for servicing workers
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting support member is designed to serve dual functions: it provides structural connection between the front and rear support members to enhance rigidity, and simultaneously functions as a hand-rail with a grip portion for servicing workers to stabilize their posture during cleaning operations. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by making the same structural element serve both structural and operational purposes.
2Ease of operation
If servicing workers climb onto the crawler belt to clean the rear face of the cab, then they can reach the cleaning area, but their posture becomes unstable and cleaning efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The grip portion on the connecting support member acts as an intermediary element between the servicing worker and the machine structure. It provides a stable hand-hold that mediates the worker's position, allowing them to maintain stable posture while accessing the rear face of the cab for cleaning, thus resolving the contradiction between accessibility and stability.
3Ease of operation
If the connecting support member is provided with a grip portion, then servicing workers can stabilize their posture, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting support member is designed to serve dual functions: it provides structural connection between the front and rear support members to enhance rigidity, and simultaneously functions as a hand-rail with a grip portion for servicing workers to stabilize their posture during cleaning operations. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by making the same structural element serve both structural and operational purposes.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A machine room (15) is provided between a cab (14) and a counterweight (6) which are mounted on a revolving frame (5) to accommodate an engine (7). The machine room (15) is built of a left front support member (20), a rear support member (21), a connecting support member (22) and a left side housing door (25). A horizontal grip portion (22B) and an inclined grip portion (22C) are provided in intermediate portions of the connecting support member (22) which connects the left front support member (20) and the rear support member (21). By opening the left side housing door (25), the inclined grip portion (22C) of the connecting support member (22) comes out, permitting a servicing worker to hold on thereto helping him or her perform a cleaning job of a rear face portion (14B) of a cab (14) in an efficient manner.