Rotating Cable Guide Arm for Maneuverable Mining Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cable handling systems for electrically powered mining or construction vehicles face challenges in maneuverability due to the rigidity and limited length of electrical cables, making it difficult to move drilling rigs without damaging the cables during complex operations in confined or uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
A cable handling system featuring a skid-steered or wheeled vehicle with a cable guide assembly that includes a rotatable arm member and cable guide mechanism, allowing the cable to be wound and unwound from a reel while maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle, enabling free maneuverability and automatic cable management during vehicle movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a trailing electrical cable is used to supply power to the drilling rig, then electrical energy can be supplied from a remote source, but the cable limits vehicle movement and makes maneuvering difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guide assembly includes a rotatable arm member that can dynamically adjust its position through an arc of up to 90 degrees in either direction. This dynamic positioning allows the cable to be routed away from the vehicle body during maneuvering operations, enabling the drilling rig to move freely without being constrained by a fixed cable path.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable guide mechanism acts as an intermediary between the trailing electrical cable and the cable reel. It receives and guides the cable towards the reel while allowing the arm member to position the cable optimally, thereby mediating between the power supply requirement and the maneuverability need.
2Power
If a thick and rigid cable is used for power supply, then sufficient electrical current can be transmitted, but the cable becomes awkward to avoid during complex maneuvering
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable arm member provides dynamic cable routing capability, allowing the thick and rigid cable to be actively positioned away from the vehicle's path of movement. The arm can rotate through up to 90 degrees in either direction, enabling the operator to maneuver the drilling rig through complex terrain without the cable becoming an obstacle.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable guide assembly adds a spatial dimension to cable management by positioning the cable in three-dimensional space around the vehicle body. The arm member rotates the cable through an arc, effectively using vertical and lateral space to keep the cable clear of the ground and vehicle tracks during maneuvering.
3Device complexity
If the cable has limited length for practical reasons, then the system remains manageable, but the furthest travel distance is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guide assembly with its rotatable arm member maximizes the effective utilization of the limited cable length by dynamically optimizing the cable's spatial path. The arm can position the cable to follow the most efficient route from the power source to the drilling rig, reducing wasted cable length and extending the practical travel distance.
Solution Approach 2:
By utilizing three-dimensional space around the vehicle body, the cable guide assembly allows the cable to be routed overhead and around the vehicle rather than dragging along the ground. This vertical and lateral positioning increases the effective working radius and extends travel distance without requiring a longer cable.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle performs complex maneuvering in confined terrain, then operational flexibility is improved, but the risk of running over and damaging the cable increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guide assembly with rotatable arm member provides real-time cable positioning capability that adapts to the vehicle's movement. As the drilling rig maneuvers through confined terrain, the arm can rotate to keep the cable clear of tracks and wheels, maintaining cable integrity while enabling complex operational maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable guide mechanism serves as a protective intermediary between the vulnerable cable and the harsh operating environment. It actively manages cable placement, preventing the cable from being run over by tracks or wheels during complex maneuvering operations in confined terrain.
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
Enables safe and efficient movement of drilling rigs in complex terrain without damaging cables, allowing for precise positioning and extended operation using a remote power source, reducing the risk of cable damage and enhancing operational flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
The cable guide mechanism is arranged at a second distal end of the arm member to receive and guide a cable used towards the cable reel
Implementation Method 2
a first end of the arm member is rotatably attached at a rear of the vehicle body to be moveable horizontally up to about 90 degrees in either direction around the rear of the vehicle body through an arc centered in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body
Data Source
AI summary
A cable handling system at an electrically powered mining or construction vehicle that includes a skid-steered tracked or wheeled vehicle body which is powered for motion by an electric motor. The vehicle is supplied electric power either by an on-board battery and/or fuel cell or through a trailing electrical cable which is arranged to be wound onto and unwound from a cable reel on the vehicle body. The system includes a cable guide assembly that includes an arm member and a cable guide mechanism. A first end of the arm member is rotatably attached at a rear of the vehicle body to be moveable horizontally up to about 90 degrees in either direction around the rear of the vehicle body through an arc centered in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body.