Hydraulic Clamp Side-Shifting Pressure Control for Fragile Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic load-handling clamp assemblies face a challenge where the bidirectional clamping force is diminished by the simultaneous unidirectional side-shifting force, leading to potential load slippage or falling during side-shifting, especially when handling fragile loads.
Innovation Solution
A load-weight responsive side-shifting system that automatically adjusts the side-shifting pressure relief setting based on the sensed hydraulic pressure in the hoist line, ensuring that the side-shifting pressure is variably limited to prevent reduction in clamping force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If hydraulic side-shifting force is increased to achieve rapid side-shifting, then side-shifting speed is improved, but clamping force is reduced causing load slippage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the side-shifting pressure relief setting based on sensed hydraulic pressure in the hoist line. The system varies the side-shifting force parameter in response to load weight, allowing rapid side-shifting for heavy loads while limiting side-shifting force for lighter loads to maintain adequate clamping force and prevent load slippage.
2Strength
If hydraulic clamping force is reduced to avoid overclamping damage to fragile loads, then load protection is improved, but side-shifting force is not sufficiently limited causing load slippage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the hydraulic pressure sensed in the hoist line as an indicator of load weight. This feedback signal automatically adjusts the side-shifting pressure relief setting, ensuring that side-shifting force is appropriately limited when handling fragile loads with reduced clamping force, thereby maintaining load security and preventing slippage.
3Device complexity
If the same hydraulic actuator performs both clamping and side-shifting functions, then device complexity is reduced, but force control becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the side-shifting pressure relief setting variable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts the side-shifting force parameter in response to sensed hydraulic pressure, enabling proper force control during side-shifting operations while maintaining the simpler integral configuration where one actuator performs both clamping and side-shifting functions.
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 effectively prevents load slippage or falling during side-shifting by ensuring that the side-shifting pressure is automatically adjusted in response to the load weight, maintaining a safe and stable clamping force.
Implementation Method 1
hydraulic side-shifting force
Implementation Method 2
sensed hydraulic pressure in the hoist line
Data Source
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AI summary
Different exemplary control systems for a hydraulically powered load-handling clamp, of the type usually mountable on industrial lift trucks or automatically guided vehicles, are disclosed. The disclosed systems variably limit a hydraulic force, by which load-clamping arms move a load substantially transversely, automatically depending on the weight of the load being moved, so as to avoid excessive transverse force applied to fragile loads.