Prismatic Support Beam Socket Joint for Mobile Crane Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complex and costly production of spherical or dome-shaped support beam heads in existing support devices for work machines, such as mobile cranes, complicates the design and increases production expenses, while also requiring complex bearing devices that are time-consuming and expensive to manufacture.

Innovation Solution

A prismatic support beam with a cylindrical, hollow design that protrudes into a socket joint, allowing direct force transmission via an annular end face, eliminating the need for a spherical support beam head and simplifying the bearing device by using a separate bearing element for movability and force distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a spherical support beam head is used to transmit forces uniformly to the support element, then the force transmission is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce transmissionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the support beam into two separate components: a prismatic support beam body and a spherical support head. This segmentation allows the beam body to be manufactured using simple linear cutting processes, while the spherical head can be produced separately and attached, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining effective force transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines the prismatic beam body with a spherical support head to create a hybrid structure. The prismatic body provides ease of manufacture through linear cutting, while the spherical head provides uniform force distribution. This merging of geometric forms resolves the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and force transmission effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a spherical support beam head made in one piece with the support beam is used, then the structural integrity is improved, but the production time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The support beam is segmented into a prismatic body and a spherical head that can be manufactured separately. The prismatic body can be produced using efficient linear cutting processes, while the spherical head can be manufactured independently. This segmentation significantly reduces production time while maintaining structural integrity through proper connection of the two parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If a complex spherical bearing device is used to support the support beam, then the movability on uneven ground is improved, but the device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovability on uneven groundVSAvoidbearing device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the support beam head spherical to achieve movability, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the beam body prismatic and adding a spherical support head that interfaces with the support element. This inversion simplifies the bearing device while maintaining the ability to adapt to uneven ground surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP2050709B1Bracing device with direct support girder bracing support
Publication Date: 2010.05.12 PALFINGER AG
  • EP2050709B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2050709B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The device has a prismatic supporting girder (3) and a supporting element (5) arranged at a work machine. The girder is movably supported at the supporting element via a bearing device (4). The bearing device comprises a supporting girder receptacle (5b) arranged at the supporting element. The supporting girder extends into the supporting girder receptacle of the supporting element and possesses a cross sectional surface, by which the girder is directly supported in the supporting girder receptacle. The supporting girder is designed in a cylindrical or concave type.