Remote Maintenance Device for Tank Interior Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Maintenance of large storage tanks, such as water towers, is hazardous and inefficient due to the need for manual sandblasting and painting inside enclosed and tall structures, posing risks to workers from paint dust and requiring extensive climbing or elevating devices.

Innovation Solution

A remote-controlled maintenance system with a lifting system, drive arm, and maintenance arm that moves around the interior surface of the tank, allowing for sandblasting or painting while minimizing worker presence, using a support cable, lifting devices, and a remote control system to operate from outside the tank.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual sandblasting equipment is used inside the tank, then paint removal effectiveness is improved, but worker safety deteriorates due to hazardous dust and enclosed space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaint removal effectivenessVSAvoidworker exposure to paint dust

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical sandblasting operations with an automated robotic system that can be controlled remotely or autonomously. The robotic arm equipped with sandblasting nozzles performs the paint removal task without requiring workers to physically enter the hazardous enclosed space, thus maintaining productivity while eliminating direct worker exposure to harmful dust

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The robotic system acts as an intermediary between the operator and the hazardous environment. The operator controls the sandblasting process from outside the tank through remote control interfaces, while the robotic arm and sandblasting equipment serve as the intermediary that performs the dangerous work inside the enclosed space, separating the human operator from direct contact with harmful substances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If workers climb or use elevating devices to reach tall structures, then maintenance access is improved, but worker safety deteriorates due to height-related dangers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance accessVSAvoidworker exposure to height dangers

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual climbing and elevating devices with a robotic system that is lowered into the tank using a winch mechanism. The robotic arm can reach and service the entire interior surface of tall tanks without requiring workers to climb or use elevating equipment, thereby maintaining maintenance access capability while eliminating height-related safety hazards

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the worker from the hazardous environment by placing the sandblasting and painting equipment on a robotic arm that can be positioned anywhere inside the tank. The robotic system is lowered through an opening in the tank top and can service the entire interior surface without requiring workers to be physically present inside the tall enclosed structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If multiple workers are present inside the enclosed tank, then maintenance task completion is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates due to limited worker presence time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance task completionVSAvoidworker presence time limitation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces multiple human workers with a single robotic system that can operate continuously inside the enclosed tank. The robotic arm can perform sandblasting, painting, and inspection tasks without the need for workers to exit and re-enter the confined space, eliminating time losses associated with worker rotation and safety monitoring while maintaining or improving task completion rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The robotic system enables continuous operation inside the enclosed tank without the interruptions required by manual operations. The robot can work continuously on sandblasting, painting, and inspection tasks without needing to be removed from the hazardous environment or subjected to the same safety constraints as human workers, thereby eliminating downtime and maximizing productive operation time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If remote control system is used to operate maintenance equipment, then worker safety is improved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworker protection from hazardsVSAvoidremote control system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The remote control system serves as an intermediary that allows operators to control the robotic sandblasting and painting equipment from a safe location outside the tank. The system includes control interfaces, communication links, and automated functions that manage the complex robotic operations without requiring direct worker presence in the hazardous environment, balancing increased system complexity with significant safety improvements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11498185B2Maintenance device

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 PAYEUR CRAIG

AI summary

A maintenance device for remotely maintaining the inside of a structure, for example, by deploying a maintenance tool to remotely clean, sandblast using various blast media, and/or paint an interior surface of a building structure.