Hookloader Hook Wear Indicator Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hookloader hooks are prone to failure under significant loads, posing safety risks and potential for catastrophic damage due to inadequate wear indication and material weaknesses.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a wear indicator on the hook portion, which can be formed around the inner circumference or perimeter of the throat, providing visible signs of wear through raised or recessed elements, allowing for timely identification of wear and potential failure points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a hook is used to bear significant loads in a hookloader, then the hook can perform its lifting function, but the hook is prone to failure due to wear and material weaknesses, posing safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehook reliabilityVSAvoidsafety risks from hook failure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wear indicator is pre-formed on the hook portion around the throat area where wear occurs. This preliminary feature allows wear to be detected before it reaches critical levels, enabling preventive maintenance and avoiding catastrophic hook failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The wear indicator provides visual feedback about the wear condition of the hook. As wear progresses, the indicator becomes visible or changes appearance, giving operators feedback on the hook's remaining service life and when maintenance or replacement is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If no wear indicator is provided on the hook, then the hook structure remains simple, but wear on the hook portion cannot be detected timely, leading to potential failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear detection capabilityVSAvoidhook structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wear indicator is segmented from the main hook structure, formed as a distinct feature around the throat. This segmentation allows the indicator to be specifically positioned where wear occurs while keeping the rest of the hook structure simple and unchanged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wear indicator is localized to the throat area of the hook where wear actually occurs. This local feature provides wear detection capability exactly where needed, without adding complexity to other parts of the hook structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If the wear indicator is formed around the entire inner circumference of the throat, then wear detection coverage is maximized, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear detection coverageVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The wear indicator is formed around substantially the entire inner circumference of the throat, providing comprehensive wear detection coverage. The patent accepts this slight excess in manufacturing complexity as worthwhile for achieving complete wear monitoring around the throat area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3663591B1Hook for a hookloader

Publication Date: 2021.10.06 HYVA HLDG BV

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AI summary

The present disclosure concerns a hook (100) for a hookloader (10) comprising: a shank portion (102) for connecting the hook (100) to a hookloader (10); a hook portion (104) comprising a throat (112); and a wear indicator (124) formed on the hook portion (104) configured to indicate wear on the hook portion (104). Also disclosed is a hookloader (10) comprising a hook (100).