Multi-Armed Lifting Accessory for Irregular Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for moving heavy, irregularly shaped loads, such as barge lids or skid steer loaders, are inefficient and unsafe due to the lack of suitable lifting solutions that can securely engage and transport these loads between docks and barges, especially in confined spaces.
Innovation Solution
A Multi-Armed Lifting Accessory that engages with the bucket of a crane or loader, featuring a compact design with pivotable loading arms and support arms, allowing secure attachment and flexible lifting of irregularly shaped loads, and can be easily transported in a pickup truck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a lifting accessory is designed to handle heavy, irregularly shaped loads, then the lifting capacity and versatility are improved, but the device size and weight increase, making it difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting accessory is divided into multiple independent arms that can be folded together. Each arm can be positioned and locked independently, allowing the device to be segmented into a compact configuration for transport while maintaining full lifting capability when deployed. The arms are connected through pivot points that enable them to be collapsed into a tight bundle.
Solution Approach 2:
The arms of the lifting accessory are designed to nest within each other when not in use. The smaller arms can be positioned inside larger arms, creating a compact nested structure that minimizes the overall volume of the device during transport. This nesting capability allows the large lifting accessory to fit into the bed of a pickup truck.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the lifting accessory has fixed arms, then the structural stability is improved, but the ability to handle various shapes and sizes of loads decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The arms of the lifting accessory are designed to be dynamic rather than fixed. Each arm can be rotated and positioned at different angles to accommodate various load shapes and sizes. The pivot connections allow the arms to move and adjust their configuration, providing both stability when locked in position and adaptability to different lifting scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The geometry and configuration of the arms can be changed by adjusting their angular positions and extensions. This allows the same structural components to adapt to different load parameters (shape, size, weight distribution) while maintaining structural integrity. The arms can be extended or repositioned to match the specific dimensions of each load.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex lifting mechanisms are used to handle irregular loads, then the lifting versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases, making it harder to operate and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting accessory incorporates self-latching mechanisms and automatic locking features that engage when the arms are positioned. The device serves itself by automatically securing the arms in the correct positions without requiring complex manual adjustment or multiple operators. This reduces operational complexity while maintaining the ability to handle irregular loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The arms and connections are designed with universal interfaces that can accommodate different load configurations using the same basic mechanism. Rather than having specialized mechanisms for each type of load, a single versatile arm design with adjustable positioning handles various irregular loads, simplifying the overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A Multi-Armed Lifting Accessory is disclosed herein which is compact and transportable in various deployments. The Multi-Armed Lifting Accessory is advantageous and useful as it has hingedly connected loading and support arms attached to a main lifter body. The supporting arms are spring loaded allowing the Multi-Armed Lifting Accessory to stably engage with irregular shaped objects such as barge lid or a skid steer loader and allows for flexible engagement and balanced lifting operations.