Field-Mountable Winch Assembly for Utility Pole Load Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for raising electric power lines onto utility poles using utility vehicles with booms and jibs often result in unknown dynamic loads, leading to damage and reduced space for workers, as the weight of the jib and load creates additional stress on the boom and vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A field-mountable winch assembly that can be attached to the crossbeam of a utility pole, allowing the utility platform to be free of the jib and power lines, transferring the load to the pole and enabling more workers and improved maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a jib is attached to the utility platform to raise power lines, then the power lines can be lifted into position, but the jib increases the load on the boom and creates unknown dynamic loads that may damage the jib or boom
Solution Approach 1:
The winch assembly is detached from the utility platform and mounted directly to the utility pole. This extracts the load-bearing function from the boom-jib system, allowing the jib to be removed entirely. The winch assembly independently handles the power line lifting operation, eliminating the harmful load transfer to the boom and jib while maintaining the ability to raise power lines into position.
2Ease of operation
If a jib is attached to the utility platform, then power lines can be raised, but the jib reduces space for workers in the utility platform
Solution Approach 1:
The winch assembly is relocated from the utility platform to the utility pole structure. This extraction removes the physical obstruction from the utility platform workspace, providing workers with additional room to maneuver and work while the winch assembly continues to perform the power line raising function from its new mounting location on the pole.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the boom is configured in unusual positions to avoid obstacles, then the utility vehicle can maneuver, but the unusual configurations create unknown loads on the boom and utility vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The winch assembly is mounted to the utility pole rather than the utility vehicle boom, extracting the load-bearing function from the mobile equipment. This allows the utility vehicle to operate in its optimal configuration without the constraint of supporting the winch and power line load, eliminating unknown dynamic loads while maintaining full maneuverability to access difficult locations.
4Productivity
If workers estimate loads in the field with little information, then the operation can proceed, but the loads may be different than expected causing jib or boom damage
Solution Approach 1:
The winch assembly is mounted to the utility pole structure, which provides a stable, fixed mounting point with known load-bearing capacity. This extraction from the mobile platform eliminates the uncertainty of estimating loads on the boom and jib system. The pole-mounted winch can handle variable loads more reliably since the pole structure is designed to support such loads, allowing operations to proceed with greater confidence even when load conditions are not precisely known.
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 winch assembly reduces the load on the utility vehicle and platform, allowing for safer and more efficient installation of power lines by distributing the load to the utility pole, thereby minimizing damage and increasing worker safety and space.
Implementation Method 1
The clamp is configured to support the support drum and clamps a beam
Implementation Method 2
The motor is configured to rotate the drum
Implementation Method 3
The clamp is configured to support the support drum and clamps a beam
Data Source
AI summary
A field-mountable winch assembly comprising a boom, boom mount, motor, drum, rollers for supporting a line, base, rotating drum and a clamp is disclosed. The field-mountable winch assembly may rotate a drum pulling a line over rollers raising a power line to be attached to a utility pole. The winch may be clamped to the crossbeam of the utility pole freeing a utility platform of the tools necessary to raise the power line.