Mobile Transport Lifting Unit with Single-Motor Spindle Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile transport systems face challenges in lifting heavy loads while maintaining precision and reliability, often experiencing issues with spindle buckling and uneven lifting movements due to multiple motor synchronization failures.

Innovation Solution

A mobile transport system with a lifting unit featuring a central gearbox, lateral gearboxes, and connecting shafts synchronizes the movement of multiple lifting devices using a single lifting motor, ensuring robust and precise vertical movement of the upper frame, with manual operation capabilities in case of motor failure, and incorporating a stroke sensor for height control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If multiple lifting motors are used to lift heavy loads, then the lifting capacity is improved, but the synchronization reliability deteriorates due to faulty synchronization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting capacityVSAvoidsynchronization reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple lifting devices into a single synchronized lifting system driven by one motor. The central gearbox distributes power to multiple spindle drives through a unified transmission path, ensuring all lifting devices move simultaneously without synchronization failures that would occur with independent motors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a single lifting motor is used to synchronize lifting movement, then the synchronization reliability is improved, but the lifting capacity for heavy loads deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization reliabilityVSAvoidlifting capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the lifting system into multiple spindle drives that can be independently controlled by a single motor through the central gearbox. Each spindle drive handles a portion of the lifting load, allowing the system to lift heavy objects while maintaining synchronization through unified motor control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The single lifting motor serves multiple functions by driving the central gearbox, which then powers multiple spindle drives simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows one motor to handle the lifting capacity that would traditionally require multiple motors, while ensuring perfect synchronization.

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

3Strength

If the lifting unit is designed to be robust for heavy loads, then the strength is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting unit strengthVSAvoidlifting unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple lifting functions into a single robust lifting unit with a central gearbox that controls all spindle drives. This unified design reduces the complexity that would arise from coordinating multiple independent motors while maintaining the strength needed for heavy loads through the centralized transmission system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively lifts heavy loads with high precision and reliability, preventing spindle buckling and ensuring synchronized lifting, while allowing manual operation in emergencies, and includes a stroke sensor for adaptive height control.

Implementation Method 1

Each of which comprises a spindle and a spindle nut that is rotatable relative to the spindle about a central axis. By rotating the spindle nuts about the central axes, the spindles undergo a translational movement in the vertical direction.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP4337592B1Mobile transport system
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 SEW EURODRIVE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4337592B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4337592B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4337592B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a mobile transport system (10) for transporting objects in a technical facility, comprising a central frame (12), an upper frame (18), and a lifting unit (90), by means of which the upper frame (18) can be moved relative to the central frame (12) in the vertical direction (Z). The lifting unit (90) has a plurality of lifting devices (91), and each lifting device (91) comprises a spindle and a spindle nut which can be rotated relative to the spindle about a central axis, wherein the spindles undergo a translational movement in the vertical direction (Z) by rotating the spindle nuts about the central axes.