Formwork Lifting Device Leaf Spring Tilting Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing solutions for lifting concrete formwork devices, which involve complex and costly gantries with additional articulations, are inefficient in preventing tilting and resulting bending forces during lifting, leading to increased production complexity and costs.

Innovation Solution

A lifting device utilizing leaf springs that flex towards each other, integrated with a double articulated parallelogram and sliding suspension, allows for tilting of gantries without inducing bending forces, achieved through a simpler and more economical design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional articulation joints are added to the gantry base to allow tilting during lifting, then the gantry can tilt towards each other without inducing bending forces in the portal frames, but the complexity of producing the gantries increases and the cost rises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of bending forces in portal framesVSAvoidcomplexity of gantry production
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the tilting function from the gantry structure itself and transfers it to the connecting means (leaf springs) that join the lifting members to the formwork device upper edges. This allows the lifting members to tilt independently without requiring complex articulation joints in the gantry base, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing production complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The leaf springs serve as an intermediary element between the lifting members and the formwork device upper edges. These flexible connecting means absorb the tilting motion and prevent the transmission of bending forces to the portal frames, achieving the same protective function as additional articulation joints but with a simpler implementation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional articulation joints are added to the gantry base, then the gantry can tilt towards each other during lifting, but the production cost of the gantries increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability of gantry to tilt during liftingVSAvoidproduction cost of gantries
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The tilting capability is extracted from the gantry structure and assigned to the leaf spring connecting means. This allows the gantry to adapt to tilting during lifting without requiring expensive additional articulation joints, thereby maintaining versatility while improving ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state of the connecting means from rigid to flexible by using leaf springs. This parameter change allows the connecting means to accommodate tilting motion naturally, providing the same adaptability as articulated joints but at lower production cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution enables reliable and cost-effective tilting of gantries during lifting, maintaining stability and reducing bending stresses on frames, with automatic return to the rest position, thus simplifying and reducing the production costs.

Implementation Method 1

said connecting means comprise a leaf spring(s) comprising at least one leaf spring adapted to flex towards the other of said points

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2308790B1Device for lifting a load and assembly of two formwork devices connected by two such lifting devices
Publication Date: 2013.07.17 SATECO SA
  • EP2308790B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2308790B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The device has rigid lifting elements e.g. rods, connected by its base to a point spaced from a load e.g. formwork device (1A). A connection unit for connecting each lifting element to the point is utilized to allow inclination of one of the lifting element toward the other lifting element in a vertical plane defined by the point. The connection unit comprises leaf springs provided with a spring leaf utilized to bend the leaf springs with respect to each other. An independent claim is also included for a formwork device assembly comprising formwork devices whose upper edges are connected by lifting devices.