Robot Umbilical Carrier with Ground-Level Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional support devices for hose packs of working robots require extensive and costly maintenance setups, including climbing equipment and permanent installations, due to the need for high-level access and undefined height adjustments, which increases maintenance time and costs.
Innovation Solution
A support device with a carrier suspended from traction means, such as cable pulls leading to a cable winch at floor level, and guide stops for precise positioning, allowing easy access from ground level and reducing the need for complex maintenance infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the carrier is suspended from the ceiling using conventional support devices, then the supply lines are held up at high locations and do not interfere with processing, but maintenance personnel require expensive climbing equipment and permanent installations to access the hose package
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier is made dynamically movable along the guide rail between a retracted position during operation and an extended position during maintenance. The traction device enables the carrier to be pulled down to ground level, transforming a static high-positioned system into a dynamic one that can be accessed from ground level when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is equipped with guide stops that automatically engage with the guide rail at specific positions, providing self-positioning and self-latching functionality. This eliminates the need for complex locking mechanisms or manual positioning during maintenance operations.
2Ease of operation
If the carrier is lowered to ground level for maintenance access, then easy access to the hose package is achieved, but the carrier requires precise positioning and fixation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
Guide stops act as intermediary elements between the carrier and the guide rail. These stops engage with the guide rail to provide precise positioning and stable fixation of the carrier at the lowered position, eliminating the need for complex positioning mechanisms while ensuring the carrier remains securely in place during maintenance operations.
3Ease of operation
If a cable winch system is used to suspend the carrier, then the carrier can be positioned at ground level for maintenance, but the system requires precise control and fixation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The guide stops provide self-latching functionality by automatically engaging with the guide rail at predetermined positions. This self-positioning and self-latching mechanism eliminates the need for complex control systems or manual intervention to secure the carrier at the lowered position, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining positioning flexibility.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The device has a carrier (7) that is suspended at a traction unit (8). The carrier is retractable by the traction unit from a high operating position, which is fixed at stationary direction stoppers (12, 13), into a lower maintenance position on a base level. The stoppers are formed in fork shape, and tines of the stoppers are determined from the width of the carrier that is formed as a cross beam. The traction unit is a linkage, which guides a rope winch (11) on the base level over pulleys (9, 10).