Modular Lifting Assembly with Universal Locking Beam
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Solution Overview
Problem
The handling of diverse wind turbine components requires multiple custom lifting equipment sets, leading to increased costs and safety risks due to frequent equipment changes and complex safety procedures.
Innovation Solution
A modular lifting assembly with a standardized upper part and interchangeable lower parts, featuring a locking assembly and lateral adjustment mechanism, allowing quick and safe exchange of lifting tools for different loads without detaching the upper part from the crane hook.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If custom lifting fittings are designed for each specific load, then the lifting operation can be performed safely and effectively, but the manufacturing cost and assembly time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting beam is designed with a universal locking assembly that can accommodate multiple types of lower parts through lateral adjustment. The locking assembly can be positioned at different locations along the lifting beam to engage with different locking interfaces, allowing a single lifting beam to serve multiple lifting operations with different load requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting assembly is divided into separable upper and lower parts. The upper part (lifting beam with locking assembly) remains constant, while the lower parts are interchangeable and selected based on specific load requirements. This segmentation allows standardization of the upper part while maintaining customization capability through different lower parts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different lifting fittings are required for each lifting procedure, then the specific load requirements can be met, but the overall handling time increases due to frequent equipment changes
Solution Approach 1:
The locking assembly is made laterally adjustable along the lifting beam, allowing it to dynamically reposition to engage with different locking interfaces on different lower parts. This dynamic adjustment capability enables quick adaptation to different load requirements without requiring complete equipment replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
Different lower parts are prepared in advance with standardized locking interfaces that match the universal locking assembly. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid exchange of lower parts without requiring complex adjustments or reconfiguration of the upper part during lifting operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If custom lifting fittings are manufactured for each load type, then the lifting operation can be optimized for that specific load, but the overall manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single lifting beam with a universal locking assembly can be used with multiple types of lower parts, replacing the need to manufacture multiple custom lifting fittings. The locking assembly's lateral adjustability allows it to work with different locking interfaces on various lower parts designed for specific load types.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functional requirements of multiple custom lifting fittings into a single universal lifting beam system. By combining the standardized upper part with interchangeable lower parts, the system achieves the optimization benefits of custom fittings without the need to manufacture and store multiple separate custom tools.
4Adaptability or versatility
If frequent equipment changes are performed, then different load requirements can be accommodated, but the risk of accident or damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lower parts are pre-configured with standardized locking interfaces that are designed to match the universal locking assembly. This preliminary design ensures that when equipment changes are performed, the connection between upper and lower parts is reliable and safe, reducing the risk of accidents during exchange operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral adjustability of the locking assembly allows for controlled and precise positioning during equipment changes. This dynamic adjustment capability enables operators to safely engage and disengage lower parts with proper alignment, minimizing the risk of accidental damage or injury during equipment exchange.
Data Source
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AI summary
A lifting assembly (1) for lifting a load (2), comprising an upper part (10) and a number of independent lower parts (11A, 11B, 11C), wherein the upper part (10) comprises a lifting beam (100), a suspension arrangement (104, 105) for suspending the lifting beam (100) from a crane hook (4), and a locking assembly (101) comprising an actuator arrangement (102) realized to engage the upper part (10) to a lower part (11A, 1B, 11C); and wherein a lower part (11A, 11B, 11C) comprises a lifting tool (113, 114, 115, 116) realized for connection to a load (2), and a locking interface (111) realized to engage with the locking assembly (101) of the upper part (10). The invention further describes a method of lifting a load (2) using such a lifting assembly (1).