Foldable Suspended-Ballast Guide With Kink Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable suspended-ballast guides for cranes face limitations in achieving a minimum adjustable ballast radius due to design constraints, leading to potential inability to meet required ballast moments and necessitating cumbersome re-ballasting.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a kink joint and kink drive in the second lattice piece, allowing it to be kinked downwards or backwards, and providing a securing bolt system with a sensor system for precise adjustment, enables further reduction of the ballast radius and allows for stepless adjustment of the kink angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the second lattice piece is made straight with a U-shaped profile, then the minimum swivel angle is reduced, but the ballast radius cannot be sufficiently reduced and re-ballasting becomes necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The second lattice piece is divided into multiple sections that can be kinked relative to each other. The kink joint allows the lattice piece to change its effective length by folding segments, enabling continuous adjustment of the ballast radius without re-ballasting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The lattice piece transitions from a static straight structure to a dynamic kinkable structure. The kink joint with associated drive mechanism allows the lattice piece to dynamically adjust its configuration, changing the ballast radius continuously according to operational requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lattice pieces are made compact for transport, then transport costs are reduced, but the adjustment range of ballast radius is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The kinkable sections of the second lattice piece can be nested or folded into each other when not in use, allowing the structure to be compacted for transport while maintaining the capability for full adjustment range during operation. The kink joints enable the lattice piece to collapse into a compact configuration.
3Length of moving object
If the swivel angle is increased to achieve larger ballast radius, then different ballast moments are introduced, but the minimum swivel angle is limited by the shape of lattice pieces
Solution Approach 1:
The kink joint introduces a curved or angular configuration in the lattice piece that allows it to achieve smaller effective lengths. By kinking the lattice piece backwards or downwards, the structure can accommodate smaller swivel angles while still achieving the required ballast radius reduction.
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 configuration enhances the adjustability of the ballast radius, allowing for a larger range of ballast moment adjustments without the need for re-ballasting, improving operational efficiency and reducing assembly and transport costs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one kink drive is provided to adjust the kink angle of the second lattice piece
Implementation Method 2
a swivel drive for changing the swivel angle between the lattice pieces or for changing the ballast radius
Implementation Method 3
providing a securing bolt system with a sensor system for precise adjustment
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a foldable suspended-ballast guide for a crane with suspended ballast, comprising at least two lattice pieces which are pivotally connected to each other by means of at least one swivel joint, and a swivel drive for changing the swivel angle or for changing the ballast radius, wherein the suspended-ballast guide can be arranged on the crane via the first lattice piece, characterized in that the second lattice piece comprises at least one kink joint in order to kink the second lattice piece downwards or backwards in the direction of the crane to reduce the ballast radius.