Refrigerant System Frame with Integrated Compressor Lifting Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Larger refrigerant systems with multiple compressors face difficulties in manipulating and moving compressors due to their heavy weight and the increasing pressure to minimize the frame's footprint, making it hard to use external devices like forklifts for repair or replacement.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating lifting support members, such as beams or rails, into the frame that facilitate parallel movement of compressors, with a lifting mechanism that engages with these support members to lift and move compressors off their bases without requiring external machinery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If compressors are made heavier to withstand higher pressures, then pressure resistance is improved, but ease of manipulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A forklift access beam is introduced as an intermediary structure between the compressor and the external environment. This beam provides a lifting interface that allows heavy compressors to be manipulated using external lifting equipment, resolving the contradiction between high pressure resistance (requiring heavy compressors) and ease of manipulation.
2Area of stationary object
If the frame footprint is minimized, then space efficiency is improved, but ease of manipulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The forklift access beam extends the manipulation interface in a vertical dimension rather than requiring horizontal space. This allows the frame footprint to be minimized while still providing access points for lifting and manipulating compressors through the vertical opening created by the beam structure.
3Ease of operation
If external lifting devices are used, then ease of manipulation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting function is extracted from the frame structure itself and separated into a distinct forklift access beam component. This allows the use of external lifting devices without complicating the core frame design, as the beam serves as a dedicated interface for lifting operations.
4Area of stationary object
If compressors are packaged closer together, then space efficiency is improved, but ease of manipulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure is segmented to include individual forklift access beams for each compressor position. This segmentation allows each compressor to have its own dedicated lifting access point, enabling close packaging of multiple compressors while maintaining ease of manipulation for each individual unit through its own access beam.
Data Source
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AI summary
An illustrative example refrigerant system includes at least one refrigerant circuit including a plurality of compressors. A frame supports the compressors and includes a plurality of structural support members, at least one base supported by the structural support members and at least one lifting support member situated above or below one of the compressors. The lifting support member is configured to support a load of the compressor and configured to facilitate movement of the compressor relative to the base when the compressor is off the base. At least some of the plurality of structural support members bear at least a portion of the load of the compressor when the load of the compressor is supported by the at least one lifting support member.