Cloud Monitoring for Lifting Equipment Predictive Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Operators and owners of cranes and other lifting equipment lack technical insights, leading to inefficient maintenance and increased operational complexities.

Innovation Solution

A cloud-based monitoring system that receives operational data, determines key quantities, and enables remote management, predictive maintenance, and real-time analysis to enhance safety and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If operators or owners manually monitor lifting equipment, then they have direct control over the equipment, but they lack technical insights and face increased operational complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetechnical insights on equipment operationVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cloud-based monitoring system as an intermediary between the lifting equipment and the operators/owners. The system includes sensors mounted on the equipment that collect operational data, transmit it via network to a cloud server, which then processes and presents the information through a user interface. This intermediary system provides comprehensive technical insights without requiring operators to directly complex monitoring infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If no monitoring system is implemented, then the system remains simple, but maintenance efficiency is poor and downtime cannot be predicted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance efficiencyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system performs preliminary actions by continuously collecting and analyzing operational data from the lifting equipment. It tracks parameters such as load capacity, operational hours, and component wear indicators, processing this data through algorithms that predict potential failures before they occur. This allows maintenance to be scheduled proactively based on actual equipment condition rather than reactive repairs after breakdowns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If real-time monitoring is implemented, then safety and operational insights are improved, but data processing requirements and infrastructure complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment safetyVSAvoiddata processing infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is segmented into distinct functional modules: sensor units mounted on the equipment that collect specific parameters, communication modules that transmit data, a cloud-based server that processes and stores information, and a user interface that presents insights. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and reduces the complexity burden on any single element of the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4685098A1Computing cloud and method for a cloud source for monitoring at least one piece of lifting equipment
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 PALFINGER AG
  • EP4685098A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4685098A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4685098A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a method (100) for a cloud source for monitoring at least one piece of lifting equipment. The method includes receiving operational data (102) of the at least one piece of lifting equipment. Additionally, the method includes determining (104) at least one quantity characterizing the at least one piece of lifting equipment based on the operational data.