Rotatable Winch Base for Trenchless Pipe Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing winches designed for fitment onto excavator booms are either too large and require significant excavation or cannot align their tensile force precisely with underground pipes, leading to increased force requirements and potential damage during trenchless pipe removal methods.
Innovation Solution
A winch with a support column and base that can be inserted into an access hole, featuring a rotatable connection to the mounting structure, allowing precise alignment of the tensile force with the pipe, and a magazine and drive mechanism that can be positioned above ground, reducing the need for large access holes and enabling operation on mini-excavators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a winch is designed for fitment onto excavator booms to provide sufficient tensile force for pipe removal, then the tensile force capability is improved, but the winch becomes too large and requires significant excavation
Solution Approach 1:
The winch is divided into two main segments: a base unit that is inserted into the access hole and provides the tensile force application point, and a magazine/drum unit that can be positioned above ground. This segmentation allows the force-generating components to be located where needed while minimizing the excavation area required.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a conventional horizontal winch configuration to a vertical arrangement where the base is inserted into the access hole and the magazine extends upward. This dimensional change allows the winch to achieve sufficient tensile force capability without requiring a large horizontal excavation area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a winch is mounted on a vehicle to enable mobility and access to various sites, then the adaptability is improved, but the winch cannot align its tensile force precisely with underground pipes
Solution Approach 1:
The base is designed with rotational capability within the access hole, allowing dynamic adjustment of the tensile force direction to precisely align with the pipe orientation. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables precise alignment while maintaining the mobility and adaptability of the vehicle-mounted system.
Solution Approach 2:
The base acts as an intermediary element between the vehicle-mounted magazine and the underground pipe. It provides the necessary alignment function by rotating within the access hole to match the pipe's orientation, thereby enabling precise force application while maintaining system mobility.
3Measurement precision
If the magazine and drive mechanism are positioned below ground level to align with the pipe, then the alignment precision is improved, but the excavation area and depth requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The winch system is segmented into a base portion that extends into the access hole for alignment purposes and a magazine/drum portion that remains above ground. This segmentation allows the alignment function to be performed at the pipe level while keeping the bulk of the mechanism above ground, minimizing excavation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the vertical dimension by extending the base downward into the access hole while keeping the magazine above ground. This vertical arrangement achieves precise alignment with the pipe without requiring a large horizontal excavation area or deep access hole.
4Measurement precision
If a base is inserted into the access hole to enable precise alignment, then the alignment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base is designed with simple rotational capability within the access hole, allowing it to align with the pipe orientation through minimal mechanical movement. This dynamic adjustment mechanism adds little complexity while achieving precise alignment of the tensile force with the pipe.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a winch and to a method of using the winch. The winch is ideally adapted for mounting to the boom of a vehicle such as a mini-excavator, and is likely to find its greatest utility in relation to the removal of underground pipes, electricity conduits, fiber optic cables and the like, as well as in the bursting of pipes. The invention provides a winch comprising a support column, a base, a magazine, a drive mechanism and a mounting structure. The drive mechanism is connected to the magazine and is adapted to rotate the magazine in use. The support column connects the magazine to the base. The mounting structure is adapted for mounting to the boom of a vehicle. The winch has a rotatable connection between the base and the mounting structure which is securable in a chosen rotational position, so that the base of the winch can be correctly aligned regardless of the orientation of the vehicle.