Foldable Crane Support Apparatus for High-Rise Climbing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for increasing the height of tower cranes during construction, such as external climbing, internal climbing, and sky-crane methods, face disadvantages like high costs, logistical challenges, and interference with the construction process, particularly the internal climbing method which requires significant reinforcement and positioning issues.
Innovation Solution
A crane-support apparatus comprising a chassis and reinforcement elements with a lifting cable system that allows the tower crane to be mounted on the side of a high-rise building, enabling it to ascend with the building's progression, featuring a deployed support mode for securing the crane and a folded mobilization mode for easy displacement and repositioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the internal climbing method is used to increase crane height, then the crane can be positioned inside the building, but significant reinforcement of the building structure is required to support heavy loads
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus is divided into modular components including a chassis, multiple reinforcement elements, and attachment mechanisms. This segmentation allows the system to be assembled in a distributed manner across the building structure, spreading the load reinforcement requirements across multiple attachment points rather than concentrating them in one location.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement elements are configured to extend diagonally from the chassis to attachment points on the building, creating a three-dimensional support geometry. This spatial arrangement distributes loads across multiple dimensions of the building structure, reducing the reinforcement burden on any single structural element.
2Productivity
If the internal climbing method is used, then the crane can construct floors from inside the building, but positioning the crane in the center interferes with the construction process
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus serves as an intermediary system that mediates between the crane and the building structure. By providing a dedicated mounting platform with distributed reinforcement elements, it allows the crane to operate from an optimized position without directly interfering with floor construction activities, as the reinforcement structure is separately integrated into the building framework.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the external climbing method is used to increase crane height, then new mast segments can be inserted into the existing mast, but the process requires the crane to be fastened to the building with steel collars and uses a large metal sheath to scale the outside of the mast
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus is designed as a segmented system with a chassis and multiple separate reinforcement elements that can be independently attached and adjusted. This modular segmentation simplifies the climbing process compared to the integrated metal sheath approach, as each reinforcement element can be separately positioned and secured to the building structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support apparatus incorporates movable and adjustable components that allow dynamic reconfiguration during the climbing process. The reinforcement elements can be adjusted in position and angle, and the entire apparatus can be raised and repositioned along the building as the crane height increases, providing adaptability without requiring a completely new climbing mechanism for each height increment.
4Ease of operation
If the sky-crane method is used to airlift the crane by helicopter, then the crane can be flown to the top of the building, but the cost is very high and flying over populated areas is logistically difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus is designed to be self-supported through its distributed reinforcement elements that attach directly to the building structure. The system uses the building itself as the support mechanism, eliminating the need for external heavy-lift equipment like helicopters. The apparatus can be incrementally raised and repositioned using the crane's own lifting capacity in combination with the distributed structural support.
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 a cost-effective and efficient way to adjust the height of tower cranes relative to the building, allowing for continuous construction without the need for extensive reinforcement or complex logistics, enabling the crane to ascend and descend between different heights with ease.
Implementation Method 1
at least one lifting cable for pulling the chassis and said reinforcement element... allowing displacement, by the lifting cable, of the chassis and the reinforcement element when so folded in mobilization mode
Implementation Method 2
A distal end of the chassis is hingedly attached to the distal end of the reinforcement element
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2~4
AI summary
Crane-support apparatus for mounting a tower crane onto a side of a high-rise building under construction, enabling ascending of the tower crane according to the upwards progression of the building construction, including a chassis configured to support a climbing frame of the tower crane mast, and at least one reinforcement element. A distal end of the chassis is hingedly attached to the distal end of the reinforcement element. In a deployed, support mode, the chassis is aligned in a horizontal position, and the reinforcement element is aligned in a slanted position. In a folded, mobilization mode, the chassis and the reinforcement element are configured to be pulled by at least one lifting cable at the distal end of the chassis and the reinforcement element with the chassis and the reinforcement element hingedly folded and aligned in vertical positions. A method for using the apparatus in both modes is also provided.