Movable Ballast Weights for Cooling Tower Access Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Access systems for cooling towers face challenges with statically unfavorable rope geometries, leading to the risk of the work platform folding over or tipping, especially when dealing with overhanging or convexly curved walls, and maintenance of winches is difficult due to their inaccessible location.
Innovation Solution
The ballast weights on the boom arms are made movable along their longitudinal direction, with drive means to adjust their position, allowing the support ropes to be attached to the ballast weights, which reduces horizontal forces on the superstructure and work platform, and includes a frame for stable support and easy maintenance access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the boom is in the horizontal position to provide highest contact pressures on the working platform, then the contact pressure is improved, but the horizontal forces on the superstructure and support ropes become excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the ballast weights movable along the cantilever arms instead of fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment of their position. This enables the system to adapt the ballast weight distribution according to the boom's angular position, optimizing both contact pressure and horizontal force reduction at different operational states
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the position parameter of the ballast weights along the cantilever arms. By adjusting the distance of ballast weights from the pivot axis, the system can modify the torque and force distribution to achieve favorable static conditions while maintaining adequate contact pressure
2Force
If the boom is swung down by extending support ropes to reduce horizontal forces, then the horizontal forces are reduced, but unfavorable static conditions occur that can cause the working platform to tip over
Solution Approach 1:
The movable ballast weights allow dynamic compensation for changes in platform stability. When the boom is lowered, the ballast weights can be repositioned along the cantilever arms to maintain favorable static conditions and prevent platform tipping, adapting to each operational state
Solution Approach 2:
The ballast weights function as counterweights that can be repositioned to counteract unfavorable static conditions. By adjusting their position, they provide the necessary balancing moment to prevent the working platform from tipping over when the boom is in lowered positions
3Ease of operation
If winches are positioned on the superstructure to control support ropes, then the control function is achieved, but maintenance access becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the winches from their fixed position on the superstructure and relocates them to the movable ballast weights. This allows the control function to be maintained while significantly improving maintenance access, as the ballast weights can be easily accessed when positioned near the working platform
Solution Approach 2:
By making the winches movable along with the ballast weights, the system achieves both effective control during operation and easy maintenance access. The winches can be positioned favorably for control during work and are easily accessible when ballast weights are moved for maintenance purposes
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
This configuration reduces the risk of statically unfavorable situations and prevents the work platform from folding over, while allowing for uniform force distribution and independent adjustment of ballast weights to compensate for external loads, enhancing stability and facilitating maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a boom with two boom arms which are spaced apart from each other on the work platform and held pivotable about a common axis and each carry a ballast weight
Implementation Method 2
The free end of the boom is connected to the superstructure by two support cables that are fixed in the area of the free ends of the boom arms
Data Source
Figure 1~1a
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The access equipment has a revolving platform which is arranged at the upper edge of the cooling tower (K). A work platform is hung with guide ropes at the revolving platform. Intersect is provided with two cantilever arms which are pivotably held at the work platform around a common axis. The cantilever arms are fixed at the revolving platform over supporting ropes. The ballast weights provided at the cantilever arms are held in longitudinal direction. The supporting ropes are secured at the ballast weights.