Removable Pressure Block Assembly for Faster Stretcher Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stretcher designs have a pressure block/clamp assembly that is difficult to access and repair due to its enclosed housing, requiring significant effort and time for maintenance and component replacement.
Innovation Solution
A removable pressure block/clamp assembly is designed with a frame on rollers or hydraulic cylinders for easy installation and removal, allowing external positioning and direct mounting to wheels for enhanced accessibility and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the pressure block/clamp assembly is enclosed within the stretcher housing, then the structural integrity and stability are improved, but the ease of repair and maintenance accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure block assembly is segmented from the main housing structure, allowing it to be removed as a separate unit. The hydraulic cylinders and pressure block are designed as modular components that can be detached without dismantling the entire stretcher housing, thus maintaining structural integrity while enabling easy maintenance access.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure block/clamp assembly is extracted from the enclosed housing and positioned externally or semi-externally. This extraction allows maintenance personnel to access and repair components directly without disassembling the housing, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and maintenance accessibility.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the pressure block assembly is enclosed within housing, then protection from external factors is improved, but the time required for component removal and repair increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure block assembly is pre-positioned on removable fixtures or rails that allow quick extraction. Hydraulic cylinders are pre-configured with quick-connect mechanisms, enabling rapid removal and replacement of the pressure block assembly without time-consuming disassembly operations, thus reducing maintenance time while maintaining protection during operation.
3Ease of operation
If the pressure block is positioned externally with rollers or hydraulic cylinders, then ease of installation and removal is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Hydraulic cylinders are used to position and secure the pressure block assembly on removable fixtures. The hydraulic system provides automated positioning and locking mechanisms that simplify installation and removal operations, offsetting the added complexity through automation and standardization of hydraulic components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates quick and efficient removal and installation of components, reducing maintenance time and costs while improving overall operational efficiency and result quality.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure block is lowered onto a removal fixture which has rollers that roll into and out of the housing to receive the pressure block for installation and removal
Implementation Method 2
removal fixture which has rollers that roll into and out of the housing to receive the pressure block
Data Source
AI summary
A stretcher has two head housings, and a removable pressure block/clamp assembly which is located in the housings and positioned via hydraulic cylinders. The hydraulic cylinders raise the pressure block assembly, and the gripper hydraulic cylinders lower the pressure block assembly onto a removal fixture which moves into and out of the head housing.