Loading Arm Parallel Linkage Horizontal Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing loading arm devices face challenges in maintaining stable connection and alignment, especially when connecting to objects that are subject to movement, leading to limited operation flexibility and increased risk of accidents due to internal weight compensation and structural instability.
Innovation Solution
A loading arm device with a kinematic chain system featuring a parallel linkage mechanism, rotatable head, and resilient elements for weight and length compensation, allowing for forced guidance and balanced weight distribution, enabling the connection device to maintain a constant position during movement and pivoting, even in harsh conditions like LNG bunkering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional loading arm devices use internal weight compensation mechanisms, then they can maintain horizontal alignment, but the device complexity increases and structural stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies counterweight principles through the parallel linkage mechanism where opposing links balance each other's weight, eliminating the need for additional internal weight compensation mechanisms. The linkage system is designed so that the weight of moving components is counterbalanced by the geometric arrangement and opposing forces in the parallel structure, achieving horizontal alignment without complex internal mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel linkage mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, enables horizontal alignment, compensates for weight, and guides movement. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate internal weight compensation mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining operational capability.
2Length of moving object
If loading arm devices are designed with extended reach, then they can access distant fluid containers, but structural stability and connection reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The loading arm is divided into multiple segmented links connected by articulated joints, forming a kinematic chain. This segmentation allows the arm to achieve extended reach while maintaining structural integrity through distributed support points. The parallel linkage mechanism further segments the structure into opposing links that mutually support each other, enhancing stability despite increased length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic articulated connections with forced guidance mechanisms that adapt to movement and maintain connection stability. The parallel linkage allows dynamic adjustment of positions while maintaining geometric constraints, enabling the arm to reach distant containers without compromising connection reliability. The system dynamically balances reach and stability through its kinematic design.
3Stability of the object's composition
If loading arm devices use forced guidance mechanisms, then connection device position stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The forced guidance function is merged with the parallel linkage structure itself, rather than being a separate mechanism. The geometric arrangement of the parallel links inherently provides forced guidance by constraining movement paths through their interconnected geometry. This integration achieves position stability without adding separate guidance mechanisms, reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel linkage mechanism creates equipotential conditions for the connection device by maintaining constant geometric relationships and force distributions throughout the range of motion. This ensures the connection device remains in a stable position without requiring complex active control or additional guidance components, achieving stability through balanced force distribution.
4Adaptability or versatility
If loading arm devices are designed for operation in dynamic environments with moving objects, then adaptability improves, but connection stability and alignment precision worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the loading arm with dynamic articulated connections that can adapt to moving objects while maintaining alignment precision. The kinematic chains and parallel linkages provide forced guidance that constrains movement to precise geometric paths, ensuring alignment is maintained even during dynamic operation. The system's degrees of freedom allow adaptation to object movement while the geometric constraints preserve alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The geometric constraints and forced guidance mechanisms provide passive feedback that automatically maintains alignment precision during dynamic operation. The parallel linkage structure inherently resists deviations from the intended path through its geometric rigidity, providing continuous alignment correction without active control systems, thus maintaining precision while adapting to movement.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The loading arm device (20) has an arm structure (21) with two partial arms (22,23). The partial arms are movably organized to create a primary kinematic chain (24). A secondary kinematic chain (25) shows up a linkage system (26) that shows up a parallel linkage (28,29) at one of the two partial arms. A connection device (30) is flexibly coupled with the secondary partial arm of the primary kinematic chain. A fluid line is fluid-tightly coupled with the connecting device. The second kinematic chain is flexibly coupled to a rotatable head (33) of a column (31). Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a connection group for a loading arm device; and (2) a method for operating a loading arm device.