Removable Axle Connection for Mobile Crane Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current axle arrangements in mobile cranes are inefficient for over-the-road transport due to the complexity and time-consuming process of disassembly and reassembly, particularly with cap screws, which hinder quick assembly and disassembly, and lack lateral adjustability without significant operator effort.
Innovation Solution
A removable axle connection system with tapered ends and receivers allows for easy mating and demating of axles and frames using a pin, enabling efficient transport and reassembly without tools, and includes a telescoping mechanism for lateral adjustment using an actuator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cap screws are used to connect axles and side frames, then the connection is strong and reliable, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into distinct components: the axle with tapered ends, the side frame with corresponding openings, and the pin as a separate fastening element. This segmentation allows for simple insertion and removal while maintaining connection integrity during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using threaded fasteners that require screwing and unscrewing, the invention inverts the approach by using a tapered geometry that relies on insertion force and friction, with the pin serving as a simple retention element rather than a threaded connector.
2Reliability
If multiple parts and fasteners are used to connect axles and frames, then the connection is secure, but the number of parts increases making assembly more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The complex threading mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simple pin retention system. The tapered geometry provides the primary connection function, while the pin serves only as a simple retention element, reducing the overall complexity of the fastening system.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection function is merged into the tapered geometry of the axle ends and the corresponding openings in the side frames. The friction and mechanical interference created by the tapered surfaces provide the primary connection security, eliminating the need for multiple separate fastening components.
3Device complexity
If the axle connection is fixed and non-adjustable, then the structure is simpler, but the ability to laterally adjust the axle position is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The axle connection transitions from a fixed state to a dynamically adjustable state. The tapered geometry allows the axle to be easily inserted and removed, and the ability to laterally adjust the axle position is achieved through the simple pin retention system that allows for quick repositioning without complex adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile crane includes a main body and extendable axles, which are selectively re-positioned relative to the main body through strategically positioned apertures. The axles may be automatically locked to the main body in a desired one of the multiple positions without operator intervention. The axles one or more tapered ends for connecting to side frames, which may support crawler tracks. The tapered ends of the axles extend through openings located in the frames such that they are removably connected to an outside or exterior portion of the frames relative to the main body.