Retainer Cap Assembly with Pivotable Latch Plates for Crawler Crane Tracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retainer caps for crawler cranes are cumbersome to handle and require tools for installation and removal, necessitating separate stowage and reattachment during track assembly removal and installation, which complicates the transportation and reassembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A retainer cap assembly permanently attached to the track assembly, featuring a housing with pivotable latch plates and a rotatable lock bar that allows for locking and unlocking, enabling the track assembly to be installed and removed while the retainer cap remains attached, eliminating the need for separate handling and tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional retainer caps are used for track assemblies, then the track assembly can be secured to the vehicle, but the retainer caps are cumbersome to handle and require tools for installation and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer cap assembly is permanently attached to the track assembly, merging two previously separate components (retainer cap and track assembly) into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for separate handling and reattachment of retainer caps during track assembly removal and installation, directly resolving the technical contradiction by improving ease of operation while maintaining acceptable device complexity through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer cap assembly serves itself by remaining permanently attached to the track assembly. When the track assembly is removed from the vehicle, the retainer cap assembly is automatically removed as well, eliminating the need for separate manual handling and tool-based installation/removal operations. This self-service approach directly addresses the ease of operation requirement
2Productivity
If retainer caps are temporarily installed on mount beams during track installation, then the tracks can be secured, but the retainer caps must be separately removed and stowed when tracks are removed
Solution Approach 1:
By permanently attaching the retainer cap assembly to the track assembly, the patent merges two previously separate removal operations (track removal and retainer cap removal) into a single simultaneous action. This eliminates the time-consuming separate handling and stowage of retainer caps, directly improving productivity while reducing time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer cap assembly is pre-configured to remain permanently attached to the track assembly before removal operations begin. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the track assembly is removed, the retainer cap assembly is automatically removed as well, eliminating the need for subsequent separate handling and stowage operations that would consume additional time
3Reliability
If tools are used to install and remove retainer caps, then secure attachment is achieved, but the process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer cap assembly is designed to be self-sufficient with integrated locking and unlocking mechanisms that do not require external tools. The assembly securely attaches to the vehicle mount beam while maintaining ease of operation through its self-contained design, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer cap assembly is divided into functional segments (latch plates, lock bar, housing) that work together to provide secure attachment without requiring external tools. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity and tool-free operation, addressing both reliability and ease of operation requirements
Data Source
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AI summary
A retainer cap assembly (100) for attaching a track assembly (210) to a vehicle (200) includes a housing (110) and at least two latch plates (120) disposed in the housing (110), pivotable about a common pivot axis, between a locked and an unlocked position. A lock bar (130) is rotatably supported on the housing (110), wherein the lock bar (130) rotates about an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of the latch plates (120), so as to be selectively engaged with both of the latch plates (120) to prevent the latch plates (120) from rotating on the pivot axis when the latch plates (120) are in a locked position and disengaged with both of the latch plates (120) to allow the latch plates (120) to rotate on the pivot axis when the latch plates (120) are in an unlocked position.