Hydraulic Stop Valve Dampening for Camera Crane Jolting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic stop valves in telescoping camera cranes can cause jolting and resonance when opened or closed quickly, leading to undesirable camera movements and high stresses on components.
Innovation Solution
A stop valve with a valve pin and pin plate, spring-urged dampener pins in cylinders, and a closed loop fluid-filled flow path, connected to a control valve and electrically linked to a stop switch, providing smooth and controlled movement to prevent jolting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the stop valve is opened or closed quickly, then the response time is improved, but the crane sections jolt and resonate causing undesirable camera movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating a dampener mechanism that gradually restricts hydraulic fluid flow as the valve approaches the closed position. This pre-cushioning effect prevents sudden jolts and resonance by controlling the deceleration of the valve pin, thereby eliminating harmful vibrations while maintaining acceptable response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by varying the flow restriction characteristics of the dampener throughout the valve's travel. As the valve pin moves toward the closed position, the dampener progressively increases resistance to fluid flow, changing the hydraulic parameters to achieve smooth deceleration and prevent jolting at the end of stroke.
2Speed
If the stop valve is opened or closed quickly, then the operation speed is improved, but high stresses are created on components of the telescoping arm
Solution Approach 1:
The dampener mechanism provides beforehand cushioning by progressively restricting hydraulic flow before the valve pin reaches full closure. This controlled deceleration prevents sudden stress peaks on crane components while allowing the valve to operate at high speed for most of its travel, reducing stress only when necessary near the end of stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies skipping by allowing the valve to rapidly traverse the majority of its travel distance where full flow is needed for speed, then suddenly engaging the dampener's flow restriction only in the final portion of travel. This enables the system to rush through the non-critical portion at high speed while applying stress control only when necessary.
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 prevents excessive jolting and noise, ensuring smooth operation of the camera crane by maintaining constant tension in cables and reducing stress on components, allowing for precise and sensitive control of the crane arm.
Implementation Method 1
A spring urges the valve pin in a first direction, which may be an opening direction or a closing direction
Implementation Method 2
A closed loop fluid filled flow path connects the first and second cylinders. First and second check valves may be used to control flow in the flow path
Implementation Method 3
The stop valve closes with a smooth dampened movement
Data Source
AI summary
A stop valve for a camera support such as a telescoping camera crane may include a valve pin engagable onto a valve seat, with a pin plate attached to the valve pin. A spring urges the valve pin in a first direction, which may be an opening direction or a closing direction. First and second dampener pins in first and second cylinders are attached to the pin plate. A closed loop fluid filled flow path connects the first and second cylinders. First and second check valves may be used to control flow in the flow path.