Pivotable Cable Support for Construction Machine Boom Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing construction machines lack a reliable and easy-to-use fall prevention system for users walking on the boom, which is essential for safe operation but often requires complex and costly individual fixing mechanisms for each boom element.
Innovation Solution
A safety cable system with a single attachment point on the boom's head end and a cable support that pivots to tension the cable along the boom's length, integrated with a cable winch for secure winding and adjustable cable support for optimal positioning, allowing for cost-effective production and simplified tensioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual fixing means are provided for each boom element, then fall protection reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges all safety cable attachment functions into a single cable support structure located at the boom head. Instead of distributing fixing means across multiple boom elements, all attachment points are consolidated in one location, simplifying the overall system while maintaining fall protection capability along the entire boom length.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable support structure serves multiple functions: it provides attachment points for the safety cable, acts as a pivot mechanism for cable tensioning, and functions as a winch mounting structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable fall protection.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single attachment point is used on the boom, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but fall protection coverage along the boom length may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the safety cable attachment from a single point on the boom into the spatial dimension by routing the cable through a pivotable cable support that can tension the cable along the boom's length. This transforms a one-point attachment into a multi-point effective coverage system without adding multiple attachment points to the boom structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable support acts as an intermediary mechanism between the single boom attachment point and the user. It transmits and distributes the safety function along the boom length through cable tensioning, enabling comprehensive protection while maintaining a single attachment point on the boom for cost-effective manufacturing.
3Reliability
If the cable support is always in the securing position, then fall protection is continuously available, but regular machine operation is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The cable support is designed to be pivotable between a securing position and a retracted position. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements: when fall protection is needed, the support is in the securing position; during regular machine operation, it can be retracted to avoid interference, thus balancing safety availability with operational efficiency.
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
The system provides comprehensive fall protection along the boom's length, reducing production costs and enhancing manageability by allowing the safety cable to be easily tensioned and wound, ensuring user safety without impairing regular machine operation.
Implementation Method 1
a cable winch being arranged on the erection support and/or on the cable support for receiving and/or tensioning the safety cable. The safety cable can be wound during the working operation of the construction machine onto the cable winch and is thus securely held.
Implementation Method 2
The cable support can be adjustable in a preferred embodiment of the invention between a securing position and a retracted position. The cable support is attached pivotably to the head end of the boom. The cable support can preferably be pivoted between a projecting securing position and a retracted position.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a construction machine having a carrier unit, a boom mounted pivotably on the carrier unit, an erection support for erecting and/or holding the boom by means of a guy cable tensioned between the boom and the erection support, and a safety cable which can be tensioned along the boom for securing a user. A cable support with a first attachment point for the safety cable is arranged at a head end of the boom. A second attachment point for the safety cable is provided on the erection support. The safety cable can be tensioned between the first attachment point on the cable support and the second attachment point on the erection support along the boom.