Mobile Crane Assembly for On-Site Railroad Panel Replacement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current gantry cranes and level luffing cranes are unsuitable for on-site construction and face balancing issues, while railroad panel replacement is time-consuming and costly due to transportation and maintenance needs, with panels experiencing wear from long-distance shipping.
Innovation Solution
A mobile crane assembly with a longitudinal axis, truss assemblies, and an upper gantry system that can transition between transport and work configurations, enabling efficient transportation, assembly, and replacement of railroad panels, reducing waste and time at the job site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If railroad panels are transported over hundreds of miles to the replacement site, then the panels can be delivered to the jobsite, but the fasteners in the panels are subjected to cyclical vibrational stresses and impacts that decrease the life of the panels and increase maintenance frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assembling railroad panels at the replacement site using locally available ties and rails, rather than transporting pre-assembled panels from distant locations. This allows the panel assembly to occur before the actual replacement operation, eliminating the harmful transportation vibrations while still delivering the completed panel structure to the jobsite efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the railroad panel replacement process into distinct components: transporting individual ties and rails separately to the replacement site, then assembling them into complete panels on-site. This segmentation eliminates the need to transport fully assembled panels over long distances, thereby reducing vibrational stresses on fasteners while still achieving the goal of delivering complete panels for installation.
2Ease of manufacture
If panels are picked up individually and placed into their desired location, then the replacement can be completed, but the process is slow and can last several weeks or even months
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assembling complete railroad panels at the replacement site before the actual replacement operation begins. Multiple panels can be prepared in advance using locally sourced materials, so that when replacement is needed, pre-assembled panels are already ready for immediate installation, dramatically reducing the replacement time from weeks or months to a much shorter duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the replacement process into material delivery, panel assembly, and installation phases. By separating the assembly phase and performing it in advance at the replacement site, the critical path for replacement speed is shortened while maintaining the completeness of the final installation.
3Ease of operation
If gantry cranes are used for on-site construction, then lifting and placement can be performed, but the cranes are not suitable for on-site construction and require multiple railcars to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heavy lifting equipment into smaller, modular components that can be transported on fewer railcars to the replacement site. The modular design allows the crane system to be assembled on-site from transportable sections, maintaining the necessary lifting capability while reducing the complexity of transportation requirements compared to moving complete gantry cranes.
4Power
If level luffing cranes are used, then lifting capacity is provided, but lateral rotation after loading can induce unbalancing forces that overcome the ballast and lead to tipping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the anti-weight principle by designing a crane system with counterbalancing mechanisms that offset the unbalancing forces generated during lateral rotation. The counterweight system compensates for the shifting center of gravity when the crane rotates after loading, preventing the ballast from being overcome and eliminating the tipping hazard while preserving the full lifting capacity of the crane.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for using a mobile crane assembly are provided. The mobile crane assembly includes a mobile crane having a first truss assembly and a second truss assembly spaced apart and movable relative to one another. The first truss assembly and the second truss assembly are each coupled to a rail car end assembly. The mobile crane further comprises an upper gantry assembly movable along the first truss assembly and the second truss assembly. A flat cart is coupled to the rail car end assembly, and a material handling cart is received upon the flat cart and is configured to move between the flat cart and the rail car end assembly based upon input from a controller in electrical communication with the upper gantry assembly.