Rotatable Boom and Cabin Layout for Wide-View Material Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural and construction machinery face challenges such as limited visibility, requiring multiple machines for different functions, increased operational costs, lack of accessibility for elderly or disabled operators, and inefficient transport of large loads, leading to reduced productivity and increased wear on equipment.
Innovation Solution
An articulated machine with a rotatable boom and cabin system, featuring a front and rear chassis connected by a hydraulic powered articulated steering, allowing 360-degree rotation of a digger and operator cabin, and equipped with hydraulic actuators and outriggers, enabling independent rotation of the cabin and boom for enhanced visibility and load handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a fixed operator cabin is used, then the machine structure is simple, but visibility is limited and operational angles are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The cabin is made rotatable around the boom axis, transforming from a fixed structure to a dynamic one that can rotate to different positions. This allows the operator to view different areas while maintaining a simple overall machine structure, resolving the contradiction between visibility and structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cabin rotation function is separated as an independent degree of freedom from the boom movement, allowing the cabin to rotate independently around the boom axis. This segmentation enables enhanced visibility without significantly increasing the overall structural complexity of the main boom mechanism
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple specialized machines are used, then each machine is optimized for its specific function, but operational costs and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The machine is designed with a universal attachment system that can accommodate various specialized attachments (timber harvesting, material handling, excavation tools). This allows a single machine platform to perform multiple specialized functions, eliminating the need for multiple separate machines while maintaining functional optimization for each task
Solution Approach 2:
The articulated configuration with independent rotation of the rear frame and attachments provides dynamic adaptability for different operational modes. The machine can reconfigure its geometry and attachment positions to suit different tasks, enabling one machine to replace multiple specialized machines
3Ease of operation
If traditional fixed-position controls are used, then the control system is simple, but accessibility for elderly or disabled operators is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is made dynamically adjustable with controls that can be repositioned and reconfigured based on operator needs. This allows elderly or disabled operators to access controls more easily while maintaining a relatively simple underlying control architecture, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and system complexity
4Productivity
If bucket-sized load capacity is used, then the machine structure is compact, but transport efficiency for large loads decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The load handling system is segmented into the boom-bucket combination for collection and the integrated rear frame with attachment points for large capacity trailers or containers. This segmentation allows the machine to collect material in bucket-sized portions while efficiently transporting large loads, improving productivity without requiring a completely different machine structure
Solution Approach 2:
The rear frame is designed as a multi-functional platform that can accommodate various large capacity attachments for different transport needs. This universal design enables efficient transport of large loads while maintaining a compact base machine structure, resolving the contradiction between transport efficiency and structural complexity
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
The machine provides improved visibility and accessibility, allowing elderly or disabled operators to comfortably perform tasks, reduces the need for multiple machines, and enhances the transport of large loads, increasing efficiency and reducing operational costs and equipment wear.
Implementation Method 1
a rear chassis actuator for moving the rear chassis in a flexion direction relative the front chassis
Implementation Method 2
a hydraulic motor for rotating the digger or grasping element to 360 degrees around the arm
Implementation Method 3
providing a plurality of hydraulic actuators and a hydraulic outrigger
Data Source
AI summary
An articulated machine for moving an object includes a front chassis, a rear chassis, a power swivel system, a cabin, and a boom apparatus is provided. The rear chassis can be coupled to the front chassis by a rear chassis actuator for moving the rear chassis relative the front chassis. The power swivel system can be disposed partially within the front chassis and can have a rotational axis. The cabin can be rotatably coupled the power swivel system and can be disposed adjacent the boom swivel plate. The cabin can be independently rotatable about the rotational axis of the power swivel system. The boom apparatus can be rotatably mounted on the front chassis and can be coupled to the power swivel system. The boom swivel plate can permit independent rotation of the boom apparatus about the rotational axis of the power swivel system.