Lifting End Piece With Tapered Shield For Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing lifting end piece designs are complex and expensive to manufacture, and there is a risk of tilting during use, leading to unfavorable load cases and potential failure of the lifting connection.
Innovation Solution
A lifting end piece with an angled support surface on the shield instead of a curved pin, where the taper can be along one or multiple axes for ease of manufacture, providing a 6° to 10° angle relative to a virtual surface orthogonal to the pin's longitudinal axis, which ensures the pin is aligned horizontally when lifting and reduces the notch effect and force redirection within the material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a curved pin is used in the lifting end piece, then the pin can be aligned in a specific direction, but the manufacturing becomes complex and expensive, and there is a risk of jamming at the curvature
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of curving the pin to achieve alignment (complex manufacturing), the patent inverts the approach by keeping the pin straight and curving the shield's support surface. This reversal simplifies pin manufacturing while achieving the same alignment function through the curved shield geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the alignment function from the pin component and assigns it to the shield component. The pin remains a simple straight element for easy manufacturing, while the shield's curved support surface provides the alignment function, dividing responsibilities between components.
2Ease of operation
If a curved pin is used in the lifting end piece, then directional alignment is achieved, but the risk of jamming increases and creates unfavorable load cases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reverses which component contains the curvature - placing it in the shield's support surface rather than the pin. This eliminates jamming risks at the pin while maintaining directional alignment through the curved shield geometry that guides the pin during insertion.
3Ease of manufacture
If the shield's support surface is flat and orthogonal to the pin, then manufacturing is simple, but the pin does not align horizontally during lifting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a specific geometric property (curvature) only to the support surface area of the shield that contacts the pin, while keeping the rest of the shield and pin structures simple and easy to manufacture. This localized curvature provides alignment functionality without complicating overall manufacturing.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
AI summary
Disclosed is an arrangement comprising a workpiece having an opening and a lifting end piece 1 for connecting a lifting device to the workpiece. The lifting end piece 1 includes a pin 2 extending through the opening and having an attachment point 4 for connecting the lifting device on one side of the opening in the workpiece, and a shield 3 connected to the pin 2 and oriented transversely to the orientation of the pin 2, the base of which is larger than the opening in the workpiece. On the other side of the opening in the workpiece, the shield 3 is connected to the pin 2 and oriented transversely to the orientation of the pin 2. When the lifting end piece 1 is lifted at its attachment point 4, the shield 3 is positively engaged with the material of the workpiece surrounding the opening, thus lifting the workpiece. A special feature of the arrangement is that the support surface 5 of the shield 3 facing the opening is tapered from the pin 2 towards its edge.