Portable Boom Crane for Manual-Free Tank Freezer Rack Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tank freezers require manual lifting and climbing, which is physically demanding and inefficient, especially when multiple units need to be accessed for sample retrieval, and existing automated assist mechanisms are bulky and costly.
Innovation Solution
A retrieval crane with a boom and cable system that allows for the automatic lifting and positioning of storage racks, enabling easy access and reducing physical strain on operators, and can be used with multiple tank freezers without the need for separate assist mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual lifting and climbing are used to access storage racks in tank freezers, then no additional equipment is needed, but operator fatigue increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A portable automated assist mechanism is introduced as an intermediary device between the operator and the storage rack. The mechanism includes a movable base that positions itself at the tank freezer, a boom that extends over the opening, and a cable system with a retention hook that attaches to the storage rack. This intermediary automates the lifting operation, allowing the operator to simply guide the process rather than manually lift the heavy rack.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated assist mechanism performs the lifting function for itself and the operator. The base moves itself into position, the boom extends and retracts automatically, and the cable system mechanically lifts the storage rack without requiring the operator to physically climb or lift. The system serves both the operator's need for assistance and the storage rack's need to be moved.
2Extent of automation
If automated assist mechanisms are permanently mounted on tank freezers, then storage rack lifting is automated, but space requirements and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The assist mechanism transitions from a static, permanently mounted design to a dynamic, portable design. The base includes casters or wheels that allow it to move freely to different tank freezers. The boom is telescopic or articulating, allowing it to extend and retract as needed. This dynamic design provides automation functionality while occupying minimal space when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable assist mechanism is designed to work with multiple tank freezers rather than being dedicated to a single unit. The base can be positioned at any tank freezer in the facility, and the boom and cable system can accommodate various rack positions and weights. This universal design eliminates the need for separate mounted mechanisms at each freezer, reducing overall space and cost requirements.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple tank freezers are used to store biological samples, then storage capacity increases, but the complexity of retrieving samples from different units increases
Solution Approach 1:
The assist mechanism is designed as a universal tool that can be deployed at any tank freezer in the facility. The base moves to different locations, the boom adjusts to different opening positions, and the cable system handles various rack configurations. This universality simplifies the retrieval process across multiple freezers by providing a consistent automated assistance method rather than requiring operators to adapt to different fixed mechanisms at each unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The retrieval system is segmented into portable, modular components: a movable base, an extendable boom, and a cable system with retention hook. This segmentation allows the mechanism to be easily transported between tank freezers and configured for different retrieval scenarios. The modular design reduces the complexity of managing multiple dedicated systems while maintaining the ability to handle various storage configurations across the facility.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for retrieving storage racks in a tank freezer includes positioning a retrieval crane adjacent to the tank freezer such that a base of the retrieval crane is positionable underneath a bottom wall of a tank body. The retrieval crane includes a boom extending upwardly and laterally outwardly over the base so that a retention hook at a free end of a cable associated with the boom may be extended or retracted relative to the tank freezer. More specifically, the cable may be moved to extend the hook through the opening of the tank freezer into a storage space, and then retract the hook to lift and then hold a selected storage rack in a hoisted position. The method avoids the use of manual hoisting of storage racks, and the retrieval crane may be used with any of a plurality of similar tank freezers located in a larger facility.