Portable Pulley Block with Reinforcing Grid and Non-Metallic Liner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable pulley blocks are cumbersome, heavy, and prone to component loss and safety hazards due to complex designs and material weaknesses, making them difficult to use and transport in forestry and rescue applications.
Innovation Solution
A portable pulley block design featuring a reinforcing grid of metallic material with a non-metallic liner, providing a detachable and rotatable connection system that protects the pulley and cable, reduces weight, and enhances safety through a smooth external surface and reduced component protrusions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thick steel plates are used to protect the pulley and withstand loadings, then the strength and protection capability are improved, but the weight of the pulley block increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a metallic reinforcing grid with a non-metallic liner material. The reinforcing grid provides structural strength to withstand loadings and protect the pulley, while the non-metallic liner reduces weight compared to solid steel plates. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between needing strong protection and minimizing weight.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a complex connection system with multiple components (connecting member, yoke, pin) is used to attach the pulley block, then the attachment capability is improved, but the device complexity increases and components may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the connecting member and yoke into a single integrated connecting member with an integrated yoke structure. This eliminates the separate pin component and reduces the total number of parts. The integrated design maintains attachment capability while reducing device complexity and eliminating the risk of losing separate small components.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting member is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the attachment element and the yoke structure simultaneously. This multi-functional design reduces the number of components needed while maintaining the full attachment and connection capabilities required for securing the pulley block.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protruding components (connecting member, yoke, pin) are present on the pulley block, then the attachment functionality is improved, but the safety hazard to users and surrounding objects increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the connecting member and yoke into a single integrated component, the patent reduces the number of protruding elements. The integrated design consolidates multiple functions into one component, thereby reducing the number of protrusions that could injure users or damage surrounding objects during transport and storage, while maintaining full attachment functionality.
4Strength
If the plates are made non-detachable to maintain structural integrity, then the strength is improved, but the ease of operation for cable placement is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the casing into two separate parts that can be detached from each other. This segmentation allows the casing to be opened for easy cable placement around the pulley, while each part maintains its structural integrity through the reinforcing grid. The detachable design resolves the contradiction between maintaining strength and enabling easy operation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A light and practical pulley block comprises a pulley (1), which is freely rotatable placed on an axle (2), which is mounted within a casing (3) formed of two parts (31, 32), which are arranged apart from each other and are at certain distance apart from said pulley (1) connectable with each other by means of a connecting member (30), which is at a sufficient distance apart from said pulley (1) insertable into appropriate bore (310, 320) on each of said parts (31, 32) of the casing (3) and is in its inserted state protected against undesired removal. Each of said parts (31, 32) comprises an uniform reinforcing grid (33) consisting of metallic material as well as a liner (34) consisting of non-metallic material, by which said reinforcing grid (33) is covered at least on the external surface faced away from said pulley (1), wherein said grid (33) consists of a bearing area (335), which is formed of primary and secondary bearing rings (331, 334) which are connected with each other by means of longitudinal bearing strips (335', 335") as well as of a protecting ring (332), by which said primary bearing ring (331) is connected via plurality of radially extending spokes (333), so that the primary ring (331) is arranged concentrically with said protecting ring (332), the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the pulley (1), and is surrounded therewith, and wherein said grid (33) further comprises a pair of external spokes (336', 336") extending each per se tangentially with respect to said protecting ring (332) and towards said secondary bearing ring (334), namely towards each junction between the last and each belonging longitudinal bearing strip (335', 335") of the bearing area (335) of the bearing grid (33) of the pulley block.