Modular Large Mobile Crane with Variable Track Width

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large mobile cranes face challenges with high production and transportation costs due to massive components, poor mobility, and assembly difficulties, limiting their deployment and increasing investment costs.

Innovation Solution

Designing crane components in a modular fashion using standard production components and expansion parts to create variable, task-optimized cranes with enhanced load capacity and mobility, including a double main boom and derrick boom arrangement, and a modular counterweight system for adaptable load handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If large lattice-boom crawler cranes are built using available mechanical elements and materials, then load capacity is increased, but production costs and transportation costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload capacityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The crane is divided into modular components including lattice booms, derrick booms, lifting devices, and counterweights that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. This segmentation allows standard production components to be used, reducing manufacturing costs while achieving the required load capacity through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The crane design incorporates universal components that can serve multiple functions and be used in different configurations. The modular architecture allows the same basic components to be combined in various ways to create cranes with different load capacities, eliminating the need for completely separate manufacturing processes for each capacity level.

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

2Force

If large lattice-boom crawler cranes are built using available mechanical elements and materials, then load capacity is increased, but transportation and handling become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload capacityVSAvoidtransportation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The crane is divided into modular components including lattice booms, derrick booms, lifting devices, and counterweights that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. This segmentation allows standard production components to be used, reducing manufacturing costs while achieving the required load capacity through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If crane components are divided into smaller components, then transportation and handling become easier, but additional costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation easeVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The crane design incorporates universal components that can serve multiple functions and be used in different configurations. The modular architecture allows the same basic components to be combined in various ways to create cranes with different load capacities, eliminating the need for completely separate manufacturing processes for each capacity level.

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

4Force

If ring-lift cranes with large booms are used, then load moment capacity is increased, but mobility is significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload moment capacityVSAvoidmobility
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The crane is divided into modular components including lattice booms, derrick booms, lifting devices, and counterweights that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. This segmentation allows standard production components to be used, reducing manufacturing costs while achieving the required load capacity through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

5Force

If extremely large crane dimensions are used, then load capacity is increased, but lateral stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload capacityVSAvoidlateral stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The crane employs asymmetric counterweight arrangements and boom configurations to optimize stability. The counterweights are positioned to create balancing moments that compensate for the lateral instability caused by large boom dimensions, allowing the crane to maintain stability while handling heavy loads at extended radii.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS10246310B2Large mobile crane
Publication Date: 2019.04.02 TADANO DEMAG GMBH
  • US10246310B2 patent drawing
  • US10246310B2 patent drawing
  • US10246310B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A large mobile crane including an undercarriage. The undercarriage includes a middle section between tracks, wherein a distance between the tracks can be increased or decreased by the insertion or removal of expansion parts. The two tracks are connected on opposite sides of the undercarriage to permit movement of the large mobile crane. The undercarriage also includes a drive unit, a superstructure, one or more control stations, at least two main booms, at least one derrick boom, and at least two lifting devices and counterweights. The counterweights are either arranged separately of or mounted on the undercarriage. The large mobile crane further includes a circular track, and support rollers attached to the superstructure, wherein the support rollers ride on the circular track, and wherein the circular track is an integral part of the expansion parts.