Modular Bellows Structure for Compact Lifting Device Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bellows for lifting devices are large, fragile, and costly, making them difficult to transport and install, with high production and transport costs, and are not easily adaptable to different lifting devices.
Innovation Solution
A bellows design featuring a sheet divided into sections with reinforcement bars and flexible joints, allowing for reduced transport dimensions, easy installation, and modular replacement, with a foldable and rollable configuration for compact transport and easy adaptation to various lifting devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art bellows are mounted on rigid supports for transport, then protection and structural integrity are improved, but transport dimensions and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows is divided into multiple modular panels that can be detached from rigid supports and transported separately. Each panel can be folded or rolled independently, dramatically reducing transport volume while maintaining structural integrity when assembled on the lifting device.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows incorporates flexible joints and deformable materials that allow it to adapt its shape during transport (folded/rolled state) and during operation (expanded state). This dynamic adaptability enables the same structure to serve both protection and compact transport requirements.
2Reliability
If prior art bellows use rigid supports for structural integrity, then protection is improved, but production cost increases to orders of magnitude greater than the lifting device
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows is constructed from flexible panels and deformable materials instead of rigid supports, significantly reducing material costs and manufacturing complexity while maintaining adequate protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the bellows into simple modular panels connected by flexible joints, the manufacturing process becomes simpler and more cost-effective, avoiding the need for expensive rigid support structures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If prior art bellows are made large to cover the lifting device, then protection from dust and foreign objects is improved, but transport becomes difficult and fragile
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows uses flexible materials and joints that allow it to be dynamically compressed into a compact form for transport, then expanded to full size for operation, making it both easy to transport and effective at protection.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible panels and deformable materials enable the bellows to withstand transport handling without damage while maintaining adequate protection coverage when deployed.
Data Source
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AI summary
Described is a bellows (1) for a vertical lifting device, the bellows (1) comprising: - a sheet (10) divided into a plurality of sections (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) having respective widths, - a plurality of reinforcement bars (12), the tubular reinforcement bars (12) being mounted on each of the above-mentioned sections (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) of the sheet (10) and configured for reinforcing the section of the sheet (10) on which they are mounted, and - a plurality of connecting joints (14), each flexible joint (14) configured for connecting together a pair of the reinforcement bars (12) belonging to adjacent sections of said sheet (10).