Light-Duty Machine Component Stiffness Retrofit

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light-duty machine components lack the necessary stiffness and strength to handle heavy-duty applications, requiring separate production lines and increased resources, and existing solutions are not retro-fittable across various machine components.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a pair of receptacles and a backing member with openings and fasteners to securely attach the backing member to the machine component, along with sensors and a controller to determine load conditions and adjust the backing member's engagement for enhanced stiffness and strength, allowing light-duty components to be used in heavy-duty applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate production lines are installed to produce machine components for heavy-duty applications, then machine components can meet unique load handling requirements, but energy consumption, production costs, effort, and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload handling capabilityVSAvoidproduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a standardized receptacle and backing member system that can be used across multiple machine component types (e.g., arms, buckets, blades) for both light-duty and heavy-duty applications. This universal system eliminates the need for separate production lines while meeting the load handling requirements of heavy-duty applications through the addition of backing members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the machine component into a base component (arm, bucket, blade) and an add-on backing member. This segmentation allows the base component to be produced on standardized light-duty production lines, while heavy-duty requirements are met by adding the appropriate backing member, thereby reducing production complexity and costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If separate production lines are installed to produce machine components for heavy-duty applications, then machine components can meet unique load handling requirements, but manufacturing costs and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload handling capabilityVSAvoidproduction line complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a standardized receptacle and backing member system that can be used across multiple machine component types (e.g., arms, buckets, blades) for both light-duty and heavy-duty applications. This universal system eliminates the need for separate production lines while meeting the load handling requirements of heavy-duty applications through the addition of backing members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the machine component into a base component (arm, bucket, blade) and an add-on backing member. This segmentation allows the base component to be produced on standardized light-duty production lines, while heavy-duty requirements are met by adding the appropriate backing member, thereby reducing production complexity and costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If light-duty machine components are used without reinforcement, then production costs are lower, but the components lack the necessary stiffness and strength for heavy-duty applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidcomponent stiffness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates receptacles into the light-duty machine components during the initial manufacturing process. This preliminary action prepares the components for potential future reinforcement with backing members, allowing them to be produced at lower costs initially while maintaining the capability to be strengthened later when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a dynamic system where the machine component can transition from light-duty to heavy-duty capability by adding or removing backing members. This dynamic approach allows the same base component to serve different application requirements, optimizing both cost and performance based on actual usage conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9956839B2System for increasing stiffness of a light-duty machine component

Publication Date: 2018.05.01 CATERPILLAR INC

AI summary

A system for increasing stiffness and/or strength of a light-duty machine component having propensity for flexing along an elongated axis is provided. The system includes a pair of receptacles disposed on the machine component, wherein each of the receptacles is located in a spaced apart relation to one another and disposed parallel to the elongated axis. The system further includes at least one backing member corresponding to a distance between the pair of receptacles. The backing member is configured to define at least a pair of openings therethrough. The pair of openings is configured to axially align with the pair of receptacles defined on the machine component. The system further includes a plurality of fasteners such that at least one fastener is received in each pair of axially aligned receptacles and openings for releasably securing the backing member to the machine component.