Hinged C-Shaped Hanging Bracket for Bridge Maintenance Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hanging bracket hinged bridge maintenance vehicles are inefficient and costly due to the need for multiple devices and frequent reconfiguration to avoid bridge-side obstacles, which disrupts traffic and increases labor and construction costs.

Innovation Solution

A hanging bracket hinged bridge maintenance vehicle with a C-shaped structure that allows for the connection of multiple cross beams to a vehicle frame stringer and hanging bracket stringer, enabling the strut and hanging bracket to form an inverted G-shaped rigid frame, allowing for the direct transfer of pulling forces and enabling the vehicle to avoid obstacles by disconnecting and reconnecting cross beams as needed, without requiring additional devices or occupying lanes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two sets of vehicle frames are arranged on two sides of the bridge to avoid obstacles, then the ability to avoid bridge-side obstacles is improved, but the device complexity and construction costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to avoid obstaclesVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The C-shaped hanging bracket is divided into multiple segments (first hanging bracket portion, second hanging bracket portion, third hanging bracket portion) that can be independently disconnected and reconfigured. This segmentation allows the bracket to adapt to obstacles without requiring multiple complete vehicle frames, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining obstacle avoidance capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hanging bracket employs dynamic reconfigurability through removable connections between its portions. The bracket can be dynamically adjusted by disconnecting and reconnecting segments in different configurations, enabling adaptability to various obstacle positions without permanent structural changes or additional devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If two sets of vehicle frames are arranged on two sides of the bridge to avoid obstacles, then the ability to avoid bridge-side obstacles is improved, but the construction costs and labor costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to avoid obstaclesVSAvoidconstruction costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the hanging bracket into removable portions, the system allows selective disconnection of only the necessary segments to avoid obstacles, rather than requiring complete replacement or reconfiguration of entire vehicle frames. This reduces the quantity of materials and components needed, lowering construction costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket segments are temporarily disconnected (discarded from the assembled configuration) to navigate obstacles, then recovered and reconnected to restore the complete structure. This approach avoids permanent disposal or replacement of components, reducing overall construction and material costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Adaptability or versatility

If lifting points are frequently changed to make lifting ropes swing and transit between brackets, then the ability to avoid obstacles is improved, but the loss of time and construction efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to avoid obstaclesVSAvoidconstruction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The hanging bracket provides dynamic reconfigurability with pre-positioned connection points that allow quick disconnection and reconnection of bracket portions. This enables rapid adaptation to obstacles without time-consuming operations such as swinging and transiting lifting ropes between multiple brackets, significantly reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket is designed with predetermined connection points and removable joints that are prepared in advance for quick reconfiguration. This preliminary design allows operators to rapidly disconnect and reconnect segments when obstacles are encountered, avoiding time-consuming ad-hoc adjustments or rope maneuvers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If additional devices are used for on-site assembling of maintenance vehicles, then the ability to avoid obstacles is improved, but the device complexity and traffic occupation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to avoid obstaclesVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hanging bracket is segmented into portions with built-in removable connections that can be directly assembled and disassembled without requiring additional external devices. The segmentation itself provides the mechanism for reconfiguration, eliminating the need for separate assembly tools or equipment that would increase device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket segments are designed with self-contained connection mechanisms that can be assembled and disassembled by the bracket structure itself, without requiring external lifting equipment or additional assembly devices. This self-service capability reduces device complexity and eliminates the need for traffic occupation during assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 allows for efficient and safe avoidance of bridge-side obstacles during construction, reducing labor and construction costs while maintaining a compact, lightweight structure that does not affect traffic, improving construction efficiency and safety.

Implementation Method 1

The vehicle frame chassis hinges a lower end of a strut through a longitudinal shaft hinge together with a longitudinal shaft. An upper end of the strut hinges an extending end of an upper cross beam of the C-shaped hanging bracket through a horizontal shaft hinge and a horizontal shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHinge mechanism: Hinge

Data Source

PatentEP2878731B1Bridge maintenance vehicle with hinge-connected type hanging bracket and capable of avoiding bridge-side obstacles
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 WUDA JUCHENG STRUCTURE CO LTD
  • EP2878731B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2878731B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2878731B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A bridge maintenance vehicle with a hinge-connected type hanging bracket and capable of avoiding bridge-side obstacles comprises an unwheeling and a suspension arm. The unwheeling comprises a vehicle frame chassis (21). The suspension arm is a C-shaped hanging bracket (25). The vehicle frame chassis is connected to a lower end of a strut (23) in a hinged manner through a longitudinal shaft hinge (22) and a longitudinal shaft. A protruding end of a lower cross beam of the C-shaped hanging bracket (25) is provided with at least a fixing point for a lifting rope (26) or a lifting rope winding/unwinding device. A vehicle frame longitudinal beam (44) is fixed at an upper end of the strut (23). A hanging bracket longitudinal beam (42) is fixed at an upper end of a vertical rod of the C-shaped hanging bracket (25). The longitudinal beams are movably connected with each other into a whole through at least two cross beams (41).