Excavator Cable Positioning via Mobile Carriage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for monitoring the verticality of boring machines are not accurate enough for depths greater than 100 meters due to assumptions of rectilinear cable paths, which become curved at greater depths, leading to inaccuracies in determining the position of the casing and cutter device.
Innovation Solution
An excavator machine equipped with a carriage that slides along the cable, allowing for three-dimensional position determination of the carriage, which in turn allows for accurate positioning of the casing and cutter device, using a locator device and multiple measurements along the cable to account for curvature and tilt, with optional guide devices to prevent pivoting and enhance measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the cable path is assumed to be rectilinear for monitoring verticality, then the measurement system is simple and works for shallow depths, but the accuracy deteriorates significantly for depths greater than 100 meters due to cable curvature
Solution Approach 1:
The cable path is divided into multiple segments between successive measurement points. Instead of assuming a single rectilinear path, the system segments the cable into discrete portions and measures the position at each segment point, allowing the curvature to be accounted for through cumulative summation of segment vectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from two-dimensional rectilinear assumptions to three-dimensional position measurements. By using a locator device to determine the three-dimensional position of the carriage at multiple points along the cable, the system can accurately model the curved three-dimensional path of the cable, enabling accurate depth monitoring regardless of curvature.
2Measurement precision
If the carriage moves along the cable to determine three-dimensional position, then the monitoring accuracy improves for great depths, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage serves multiple functions: it acts as a mobile reference point for position measurement, a carrier for the locator device, and a marker for depth determination. By making the carriage multi-functional, the system reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage acts as an intermediary between the surface reference points and the casing at depth. Instead of directly measuring the casing position from the surface, the system uses the carriage as a mobile intermediary that can be positioned at any point along the cable, facilitating indirect but accurate position determination through triangulation and coordinate transformation.
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 provides accurate monitoring of the casing's path regardless of depth, improving the precision of trench excavation by determining the three-dimensional position of the carriage and thus the casing, enabling better alignment and minimizing deflection from the desired path.
Implementation Method 1
the carriage moves down under the effect of its own weight
Data Source
AI summary
An excavator machine that includes components such as: a suspended casing having a top end and a bottom end; at least one cable that extends above the casing, where the cable is under tension and has a bottom end that is fastened to the top end of the casing; and a cutter device that is arranged at the bottom end of the casing. The excavator machine further includes: a carriage that is mounted to slide along the cable; a device for moving the carriage along the cable; and a locator device for determining the three-dimensional position of the carriage.