Pivoting Device With Variable Transmission Ratio For Crane Gripper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gripping systems for cranes, particularly those used for agricultural fiber materials like hay and straw, face challenges in operational safety and flexibility, as they often require significant force and limited pivot angles, making it difficult to efficiently handle and stack bales.
Innovation Solution
A pivoting device with a translation mechanism that allows the gripping device to pivot relative to the crane arm using a uniform or constant force, achieving large pivot angles up to 135°, and featuring a variable transmission ratio to adapt to different gripping operations, thereby enhancing operational safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rigid bridge directly connects the grab arms to enable pivoting, then the structure is simple and robust, but the pivoting movement cannot be actuated uniformly and large pivoting angles are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid bridge is divided into two separate grab arms that can pivot independently relative to each other and to the crane boom. This segmentation allows each arm to be actuated uniformly through the transmission mechanism while maintaining overall structural robustness.
Solution Approach 2:
A transmission mechanism acts as an intermediary between the actuating force and the grab arms. This intermediary component enables uniform pivoting movement by distributing the actuating force evenly across both grab arms, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and structural simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If significant force is applied to pivot the gripping device, then large pivoting angles can be achieved, but operational safety is compromised due to risk of overloads
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission mechanism incorporates feedback through its mechanical geometry, automatically adjusting the force distribution during pivoting. As the grab arms approach their pivoting limits, the mechanism naturally reduces the actuating force required, preventing overloads while achieving large pivoting angles safely.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission mechanism changes the mechanical parameters (force, torque) during the pivoting process. By varying the transmission ratio throughout the range of motion, it enables large pivoting angles while maintaining force levels that ensure operational safety and prevent overloads.
3Device complexity
If a single hydraulic cylinder is used to actuate the pivoting, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to achieve uniform pivoting movement is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The single hydraulic cylinder is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it actuates both grab arms through the transmission mechanism, providing uniform pivoting movement while maintaining structural simplicity. The transmission mechanism translates the single cylinder's linear motion into coordinated rotational motion of both arms.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission mechanism serves as an intermediary that converts the single hydraulic cylinder's output into uniform pivoting movement of both grab arms. This intermediary component enables a simple actuating mechanism to achieve complex coordinated motion, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and operational ease.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the gripping device is rigidly mounted to the crane arm, then the structure is simple and robust, but flexibility in gripping operations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid mounting structure is segmented into a pivoting connection between the crane arm and the grab arms. This segmentation allows the gripping device to maintain a simple and robust overall structure while introducing controlled flexibility through the pivoting joints, enabling adaptable gripping operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic pivoting connection. This dynamic element allows the gripping device to adapt its orientation and position during operation, providing flexibility while maintaining structural simplicity through the straightforward pivoting mechanism.
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 solution enables safe and efficient pivoting of the gripping device, allowing for easy handling and stacking of bales with a single hydraulic cylinder, reducing the risk of overloads and improving operational efficiency by providing a compact and robust design.
Implementation Method 1
actuating element (16), in particular a hydraulic cylinder, for actuating the transmission mechanism (5)
Implementation Method 2
The transmission mechanism preferably has a transmission ratio that specifies, for example, the ratio of the input force or torque to the output force or output torque
Implementation Method 3
The lever arm (12) and the transmission element (14) are pivotably mounted on a connecting bearing (17)
Data Source
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AI summary
A swivel device (4), a gripping system (1) for a crane, in particular a hay crane, and a crane, in particular a hay crane, with such a gripping system (1). The invention includes a crane arm section (6), a gripping device section (7), and a swivel device (4) with which the gripping device section (7) is pivotably mounted relative to the crane arm section (6). According to the invention, the swivel device (4) has a transmission mechanism (5) for swiveling the gripping device section (3) relative to the crane arm section (2).