Force-Sensing Lift Enhancer for Precise Building Element Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction industry faces challenges with worker fatigue and reduced productivity due to repetitive lifting and placement of heavy building elements, leading to inaccurate placement and increased injury risk, particularly with larger and bulkier units that require multiple workers and mechanical assistance.
Innovation Solution
A Building Element Lift Enhancer with a modular design, featuring a base, upright section, boom, force sensor, and force amplifier that allows a single worker to control the movement and placement of building elements by sensing and amplifying user-applied force, reducing the perceived weight of the elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If workers manually lift and place heavy building elements, then the device complexity is low, but worker fatigue increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mechanical assistant device as an intermediary between the worker and the building element. This device includes a mobile base, upright section, boom, and gripper that work together to amplify the worker's input force, reducing the perceived weight of the building element while maintaining direct worker control through force-sensitive handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely manual mechanical lifting system with a hybrid system that incorporates a force amplifier. The force amplifier uses a sensor to detect user-applied force and converts it to amplified mechanical force, substituting the need for multiple workers or heavy mechanical fixtures while maintaining ease of operation.
2Force
If multiple workers are used to handle large building units, then the handling capability is sufficient, but the device complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical assistant device serves as an intermediary that enables a single worker to handle large building units that would otherwise require multiple workers. The device's force amplifier mechanism translates the worker's input force into sufficient lifting and positioning capability, eliminating the need for additional workers and the coordination they would require.
3Manufacturing precision
If mechanical fixtures are used to facilitate placement, then the placement precision is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The boom and gripper assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism that provides precise placement capability while maintaining ease of operation. The boom can be positioned to deliver the building element to the desired location, and the gripper provides controlled release, all while the worker maintains direct control through force-sensitive handling throughout the process.
4Ease of operation
If direct worker control is maintained, then the ease of operation is high, but the force amplification capability is insufficient for heavy elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a force amplifier that uses a sensor to detect the user-applied force and converts it to amplified mechanical force. This substitution maintains the worker's direct control and intuitive interaction with the building element while providing the necessary force amplification to handle heavy elements that would be impossible to move manually.
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
Enables efficient and precise placement of building elements with reduced worker effort, enhancing productivity and safety by allowing direct interaction and control over the movement of heavy loads, thereby minimizing fatigue and improving job quality.
Implementation Method 1
a force sensor that detects force applied to a building element by a user
Implementation Method 2
a force amplifier that converts user applied force received by the force sensor to mechanical force applied to the building element
Data Source
AI summary
A Building Element Lift Enhancer is described. The Building Element Lift Enhancer provides for the movement and precise placement of building elements such as blocks or sheet products by one worker. The Building Element Lift Enhancer senses the force applied by a user to the building element and converts that user applied force to mechanically assisted force from the Building Element Lift Enhancer, allowing the user to precisely move and handle large, heavy or bulky building elements by direct interaction with the building element.