Lift Apparatus Motor Controller Load Limit Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lift systems do not effectively limit the lifting force of motors based on the load limits of individual load-bearing components, potentially leading to overloading and safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A lifting apparatus with a motor controller that receives load limit information from various load-bearing components, compares these limits, and adjusts the lifting force to the lowest load limit to prevent overloading, incorporating a display for feedback and using key interfaces or wireless communication for data exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the motor provides maximum lifting force without load limit control, then lifting capability is improved, but safety deteriorates due to potential overloading of load-bearing components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting forceVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The motor controller receives load limit information from transmitters associated with each load-bearing component (track, spreader bar, sling, brackets, nuts, bolts) and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust and limit the motor's lifting force. This closed-loop control ensures the motor never exceeds the safe working load of any component in the system, resolving the contradiction between providing maximum lifting capability and ensuring safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Load limit information is obtained in advance from transmitters on each load-bearing component before lifting operations begin. The motor controller stores and processes this information proactively, establishing safe operating limits before any lifting action occurs. This preliminary configuration prevents overloading by design rather than reacting to overload conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If load limit information is collected from multiple load-bearing components, then safety is improved by preventing overloading, but device complexity increases due to multiple transmitters and information processing

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single motor controller serves multiple functions: it controls motor operation, receives and processes load limit information from multiple different load-bearing components (track, spreader bar, sling, installation hardware), compares the received limits, and determines the lowest load limit to apply as the system-wide constraint. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite monitoring multiple components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple transmitters from different load-bearing components into a unified information processing system centered on the motor controller. Rather than having separate control systems for each component, all load limit information is merged and processed by a single controller that identifies the lowest limit and applies it universally, simplifying the control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2534084B1Lift apparatus and system
Publication Date: 2017.09.27 ARJOHUNTLEIGH MAGOG
  • EP2534084B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2534084B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2534084B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A lifting apparatus for a lift system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a) a motor adapted for providing a lifting force, b) at least one connector operatively connected to the motor, the connector adapted for connecting a load-bearing component to the motor, c) an information receiver for receiving a load limit information about the load- bearing component, d) a motor controller electrically coupled to the motor and the information receiver, wherein the motor controller is adapted to limit the lifting force of the motor based on the load limit information received by the information receiver.