Rope Connecting Support for Crane Hoist Rope Stretching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for stretching a hoist rope along the upper surface of a crane boom are hazardous for operators due to the high and narrow nature of the boom, and existing solutions, such as using auxiliary ropes, can get caught on obstacles like guard members, hindering smooth operation.

Innovation Solution

A rope connecting support system that includes a base with a hoist rope locking part and an auxiliary rope connecting part, featuring an uphill section to facilitate easy passage over obstacles, allows the hoist rope to be securely connected to an auxiliary rope, which is then drawn downward from beneath the boom, eliminating the need for operators to walk on the boom and reducing the risk of entanglement with guard members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an operator walks on the upper surface of the boom to stretch the hoist rope, then the hoist rope can be stretched along the boom, but the operator is exposed to danger due to the high and narrow position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to stretch hoist ropeVSAvoidoperator safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an auxiliary rope as an intermediary tool to perform the stretching function. The auxiliary rope is connected to the hoist rope front end and drawn downward from the ground level, allowing the hoist rope to be stretched along the boom without requiring an operator to walk on the boom. This mediator transfers the stretching action from a dangerous high-position manual operation to a safe ground-level operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If an auxiliary rope is used to pull the hoist rope, then operator safety is improved, but the auxiliary rope may get caught on guard members and obstacles on the boom surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator safetyVSAvoidsmoothness of rope stretching
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies that the auxiliary rope should be made of a flexible material that can bend and conform to the boom surface. This flexibility allows the auxiliary rope to smoothly pass over guard members and obstacles without getting caught, resolving the issue of entanglement while maintaining the safety benefit of ground-level operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If the auxiliary rope is drawn downward from beneath the boom, then the hoist rope can be stretched safely, but the connecting part between hoist rope and auxiliary rope may entangle with guard members

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator safetyVSAvoidentanglement risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the connecting part (knot or connector) from the main rope system and positions it specifically at the front end of the boom where it can be securely tied without interfering with guard members. By separating the connection location from the problematic areas, the design eliminates entanglement risk while preserving the safety mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If stanchions and safety rope are mounted on the boom to protect the operator, then operator protection is provided, but the setup process becomes troublesome and dangerous

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator protectionVSAvoidsetup complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary rope acts as both the stretching mechanism and the safety element, eliminating the need for separate stanchions and safety ropes. By using this intermediary tool, operator protection is achieved through the inherent safety of ground-level operation, while setup complexity is reduced to merely attaching and drawing the auxiliary rope.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2952468B1Rope connecting support for use in crane vehicle when hoist rope is stretched
Publication Date: 2017.07.26 TADANO LTD
  • EP2952468B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2952468B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2952468B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A rope connecting support (4) includes: a base (41) having a predetermined dimension; a hoist rope locking part (42) that removably locks a rod part (62) provided on the front end of the hoist rope (6) onto an upper surface of the base (41) in one end side of the base (41); and an auxiliary rope connecting part (43) that connects one end of an auxiliary rope (7) to the upper surface of the base (41) in the other side of the base (41), wherein the base includes an uphill part (45) formed by upwardly inclining an lower surface of the one end side of the base (41), and the auxiliary rope connecting part (43) includes an upright plate (43a) used to pin the one end of the auxiliary rope (7). By this means, the rod part (62) is positioned on right and left sides thereof by the hoist rope locking part (42), and also positioned with respect to a longitudinal direction of the rod part (62).