Concrete Pump Mast Arm Pipe Holder Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Concrete placing booms face challenges in achieving stability and precision due to large manufacturing tolerances in welded constructions, leading to complex and costly manual adjustments and maintenance of pipe holders, which increases production costs and complicates the assembly and replacement of these components.

Innovation Solution

The method involves prefabricating boom arm bodies with receiving interfaces and pipe holders with connection interfaces that have position reference points independent of manufacturing tolerances, allowing for precise alignment and detachment, enabling the pipe delivery line to run in a straight line between joint axes, thus reducing stress and wear, and facilitating easy replacement during maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If welded constructions with box profile are used to achieve stability, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to large tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary alignment system consisting of reference points and alignment elements that mediate between the welded boom arm structure and the pipe holder assembly. This intermediary mechanism compensates for the inherent manufacturing tolerances in the welded construction while ensuring precise positioning of the concrete delivery line, thus resolving the contradiction between structural stability and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs adjustable parameters in the pipe holder assembly, including movable components and adjustable positioning mechanisms. These parameter changes allow the system to adapt to variations in manufacturing tolerances of the welded boom arm structure while maintaining the required precision for the concrete delivery line alignment, effectively decoupling structural stability requirements from positioning precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If mechanical post-processing is applied to compensate for tolerances, then manufacturing precision is improved, but material strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidmaterial strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical post-processing operations (such as machining or grinding) with a mechanical compensation system using adjustable pipe holders and alignment reference points. This substitution allows precision adjustment to be achieved through assembly-time positioning rather than material removal, thereby preserving the full strength of the welded boom arm structure while achieving the required alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If pipe holders are individually adapted and welded manually, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual adaptationVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the pipe holder assembly into standardized modular components that can be independently manufactured and then assembled using the reference point system. This segmentation allows each component to be produced with standard tolerances while the modular assembly process provides the necessary adaptability through the reference point-based alignment system, reducing both manufacturing complexity and production cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal reference point system that can be applied to all pipe holder positions on the boom arm structure. This universal system replaces the need for individual custom adaptation of each pipe holder, providing the same alignment and positioning functionality across all locations through a standardized interface, thereby reducing device complexity and assembly difficulty while maintaining adaptability.

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

4Adaptability or versatility

If manual welding and alignment are performed, then adaptability is improved, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustom fittingVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates reference points and alignment features into the boom arm structure during the initial manufacturing process, before final assembly. This preliminary action ensures that the complex alignment and positioning work is already prepared in advance, allowing pipe holders to be quickly installed and positioned during assembly without requiring time-consuming manual measurement and adjustment, thus improving productivity while maintaining custom fitting capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2836659B1Production method for a mast arm and concrete-distributing mast
Publication Date: 2016.07.20 PUTZMEISTER ENG GMBH
  • EP2836659B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2836659B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2836659B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing a mast arm (38) with a mast arm body (39) and with at least one pipe holder (52) for a concrete-distributing mast for use on stationary and mobile concrete pumps with a plurality of mast arms which are connected to one another so as to be pivotable on articulated joints about an axis of articulation and which hold a concrete-conveying line which has at least one rotary joint which has an axis of rotation aligned with an axis of articulation of an articulated joint. The at least one pipe holder (52) here has a pipe support section (54`) which serves for receiving the concrete-conveying line (46) at a holding point (60) which has a location predetermined by the position of the axis of articulation. According to the invention, the mast arm body (39) is premanufactured with a receiving intersection (68) and the at least one pipe holder (52) is premanufactured with a fastening section (62) which has a connecting intersection (64). The receiving intersection (68) is produced with at least three position reference points which define a plane, are independent of manufacturing tolerances of the mast arm body (39) and are predetermined by the position of the axis of articulation, and the connecting intersection (64) is formed with at least three position reference points (80, 82, 84) which define a plane and predetermine the position of the pipe support section (54`), in such a manner that, by connection of the pipe holder (52) by the connecting intersection (62) thereof to the receiving intersection (68) of the mast arm body (39), the concrete-conveying line (46) can be received by the pipe support section (54`) in such a manner that the holding point (60) is located at the location predetermined by the position of the axis of articulation.