Mobile Crane Brake Control Without Rotary Feed-Throughs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile equipment, such as cranes, require complex pneumatic or hydraulic brake line routing and additional pedals in the upper-carriage driver's cab for control and braking, which complicates the design and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A mobile equipment design where the under-carriage is steerable and brakeable via an electrically connected control unit in the upper-carriage, eliminating the need for rotary feed-throughs and additional pedals, using a brake valve and master switches for control, allowing for braking, acceleration, and steering from the upper-carriage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pneumatic or hydraulic brake lines are routed from the under-carriage into the upper-carriage and back using rotary unions, then the equipment can be braked from the upper-carriage driver's cab, but the design becomes complex and requires maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pneumatic/hydraulic brake line routing system with an electrical control system. The brake valve is actuated electrically from the upper-carriage driver's cab, eliminating the need for rotary unions and complex fluid line routing while maintaining the ability to brake from the upper-carriage position.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional accelerator and brake pedals are installed in the upper-carriage driver's cab, then the equipment can be controlled and braked from the upper-carriage, but additional components and complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The existing control units in the upper-carriage driver's cab are made multi-functional. Instead of adding separate accelerator and brake pedals, the existing control units are configured to perform both crane operation functions and vehicle movement/braking functions, eliminating the need for additional components.
3Ease of operation
If rotary unions are used to connect pneumatic or hydraulic lines between upper-carriage and under-carriage, then braking from upper-carriage is enabled, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates rotary unions and pneumatic/hydraulic line routing by substituting with an electrical control system. The brake valve is controlled electrically from the upper-carriage, removing the maintenance-prone mechanical components while preserving the braking function from the upper-carriage position.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a mobile equipment, in particular a mobile crane, comprising a mobile under-carriage with at least two wheel axles, an upper-carriage rotatably mounted on the under-carriage with an upper-carriage driver's cab in which at least one operating unit for operating a working function of the equipment is arranged, a steering system for steering at least one steerable wheel axle and a brake system with brake devices for braking at least one wheel axle. According to the disclosure, the brake system comprises a brake valve arranged in the under-carriage for setting a brake pressure for the brake devices, which is electrically connected to the at least one operating unit of the upper-carriage driver's cab and can be controlled via the latter for braking the under-carriage.