Hanging Trolley Brake System for Precise Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overhead trolley systems face challenges in precisely and quickly positioning heavy or large tools suspended from an overhead rail due to difficulties in managing momentum, whether manually or with motor-driven systems, as operators struggle to control the stopping point accurately.
Innovation Solution
A hanging trolley system featuring a body with support wheels and a brake system that includes a traction wheel, a brake rotor, and a caliper, actuated by a hand lever or cable, allowing for precise control of deceleration and stopping by selectively inhibiting the rotation of the traction wheel, enabling precise positioning of loads along the rail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a motor-driven system is used to transport the trolley along the rail, then the trolley can be moved with heavy or large tools, but it becomes difficult to precisely and quickly position the tool at the desired location due to momentum control issues
Solution Approach 1:
The braking function is segmented from the motor drive system into a separate mechanical brake assembly with independent control. This allows the motor to handle heavy loads while the brake system independently manages stopping precision through direct mechanical engagement with the rail, resolving the contradiction between load capacity and positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
A brake shoe acts as an intermediary element between the trolley and the rail, providing friction-based deceleration. This intermediary mechanism enables precise stopping by converting kinetic energy into heat through controlled friction, allowing accurate positioning regardless of the tooling's momentum.
2Device complexity
If an operator manually pulls or pushes the trolley to position it, then the system structure can be simple, but it becomes difficult to account for and control the tooling's momentum for quick and precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The brake system is designed to be self-actuating through a spring-loaded mechanism that automatically engages with the rail when the trolley moves. This self-service braking action provides automatic momentum management without requiring complex electronic controls or significant operator intervention, maintaining simplicity while improving ease of operation.
3Speed
If the motor is reversed to slow the trolley, then the trolley can be decelerated, but the operator must mentally determine when and how much to reverse the motor to overcome the tooling's momentum, making precise positioning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using the motor in reverse for braking, the system inverts the approach by using a dedicated mechanical brake that actively engages to slow the trolley. This inversion from motor-reversal braking to independent mechanical braking provides more intuitive and easier control, as the brake naturally self-regulates based on the trolley's motion and momentum.
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 system enables precise and quick positioning of heavy loads by allowing operators to control the deceleration and stopping of the trolley with ease, overcoming the limitations of existing systems by providing a mechanism to effectively manage momentum and position tools accurately along the rail.
Implementation Method 1
The traction wheel is configured to roll along a second surface of the rail
Implementation Method 2
The caliper is configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the brake rotor
Data Source
AI summary
A hanging trolley system includes a body, a plurality of first support wheels, and a brake system. The body includes upper and lower portions. The first support wheels are coupled to the upper portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about corresponding first axes that are parallel to each other. The first support wheels are configured to roll on an upward facing first surface of a rail to support the body on the rail. The brake system includes a traction wheel, a first component, and a second component. The traction wheel is coupled to the lower portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about a second axis and is configured to roll along a second surface of the rail. The first component is coupled to the traction wheel for rotation therewith. The second component is configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the first component.