Confined Space Lifting Gear with Pivotally Segmented Jib
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lifting gear is unsuitable for use in the confined and closed-off spaces of wind turbine rotor hubs and blade roots due to imprecise positioning, leading to unintended swiveling and making manual handling of heavy components necessary.
Innovation Solution
A lifting gear with a mounting element and attachment element connected by pivotally interconnected segments, featuring an adjustable lower fixing point along a circular path around an upper fixing point to ensure vertical alignment, allowing for stable and precise component handling within the rotor hub and blade roots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flexible articulated jib arm is used for moving heavy equipment, then the equipment can be moved around a horizontal plane, but the jib arm starts swiveling unintentionally due to imprecise positioning interfaces in rotatable components
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting element is designed with a movable lower fixing point that can be adjusted along a circular path around the upper fixing point. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the operator to compensate for positioning deviations in rotatable components ( rotor hub, blade roots) and ensure the segments remain vertically aligned, preventing unintentional swiveling while maintaining the flexibility needed for moving equipment in confined spaces.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the lower fixing point is fixed in position, then the mounting element provides stable support, but it cannot adapt to imprecise positioning in rotatable components leading to swiveling
Solution Approach 1:
The lower fixing point is designed to be movable along a circular path around the upper fixing point, enabling the mounting element to adapt to positioning variations in rotatable components. This dynamic configuration allows the system to maintain stable vertical alignment of segments while accommodating the imprecise positioning inherent in rotor hub and blade root interfaces.
3Stability of the object's composition
If segments are made rigid to prevent swiveling, then stability is improved, but the attachment element loses freedom of movement in horizontal plane
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting gear is divided into multiple vertically extending segments that are pivotally interconnected. This segmentation allows each segment to maintain vertical stiffness to prevent unwanted swiveling, while the pivotal connections between segments enable the attachment element to move freely in the horizontal plane relative to the mounting element, providing both stability and operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pivotal connections that allow horizontal movement while maintaining vertical alignment. The segments can pivot relative to each other in the horizontal plane, enabling freedom of movement, but the vertical extending configuration and adjustable fixing points ensure the segments remain vertically aligned to prevent unintentional swiveling.
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
Enables safe and efficient handling of components in confined spaces by preventing unintentional swiveling and providing sufficient stiffness to resist the weight of attached components, facilitating easy assembly, disassembly, and transportation.
Implementation Method 1
the vertically extending segments need to be oriented parallel to the force of gravity
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a lifting gear (1) for use in confined spaces, especially within wind energy turbines. The lifting gear (1) comprises a mounting element (2) and an attachment element (20) for attaching a lifting tool, wherein the mounting element (2) and the attachment element (20) are connected by a series (10) of vertically extending segments (11), wherein adjacent segments (11) are interconnected pivotally in a horizontal plane for the attachment element (20) being freely movable and alignable in a horizontal plane in respect to the mounting element (2). The mounting element (2) comprises an upper fixing point (3) and a lower fixing point (4), wherein position of the lower fixing point (4) relative of to the upper fixing point (3) is adjustable along a circular path around the upper fixing point (3).