Slipform Paver Cable Winch for Fast Tension and Width Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing road construction machines face challenges in easily, quickly, and safely adjusting cable tension and length for working devices due to issues such as cable tension loss over time, temperature changes, and manual tensioning requiring significant force and time, especially when changing working widths.
Innovation Solution
A cable winch system with dual drum halves that can operate in two modes: one for moving the carriage and another for adjusting cable tension and length, using hydraulic, pneumatic, or electromotive drives, and clutch mechanisms to facilitate easy and safe cable management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cable tensioning is performed, then cable tension can be adjusted, but it requires significant force and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cable tensioning with an automated cable winch system that uses a cable drum and winding mechanism to automatically adjust and maintain cable tension, eliminating the need for manual force application and significantly reducing tensioning time
Solution Approach 2:
The cable winch system automatically monitors and adjusts cable tension as needed, performing self-service tensioning operations without requiring manual intervention, thereby reducing both the force and time required for tension adjustment
2Reliability
If cable tension is adjusted manually, then tension can be maintained, but it requires working in hazardous areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual cable tensioning operations with an automated cable winch system, eliminating the need for operators to work in hazardous areas near moving machinery and cables, thereby removing the safety hazard while maintaining reliable cable tension
Solution Approach 2:
The cable winch system acts as an intermediary device between the operator and the cable tensioning process, allowing tension adjustment to be performed remotely or automatically from safe positions rather than requiring direct manual handling in hazardous zones
3Adaptability or versatility
If working width is changed, then adaptability is improved, but cable length adjustment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The cable winch system serves multiple functions: it not only moves the carriage along the cable but also automatically adjusts cable length and tension when working width changes occur, eliminating the need for separate cable management operations and reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the cable movement function and cable length adjustment function into a single integrated cable winch mechanism, where the same cable drum and winding system handles both carriage positioning and cable length management, simplifying the overall system
4Ease of operation
If cable is wound on cable drum, then carriage can be moved, but cable tension decreases over time
Solution Approach 1:
The cable winch system incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor cable tension levels and automatically trigger rewinding or tensioning operations when tension drops below threshold levels, ensuring consistent cable tension is maintained over time while preserving ease of carriage movement
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous cable tension through periodic automatic rewinding operations performed by the cable winch, ensuring that the useful action of cable tensioning continues uninterrupted over time rather than allowing tension to degrade between operations
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 rapid and automated adjustment of cable tension and length, reducing manual effort and ensuring safety by allowing tensioning outside hazardous areas, thus improving operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The cable drum has a first and a second drum half, one end of the cable being fastened to one drum half and the other end of the cable being fastened to the other drum half
Data Source
AI summary
The road construction machine according to the invention, in particular a slipform paver or curing machine for freshly manufactured concrete layers, has a machine frame 1 supported by running gears 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, on which machine frame a working device 11 is provided, which has a working means 18 that can be moved in a direction running transversely to the working direction I, which working means is fastened to a carriage 13 which is guided on a linear guide 12 running transversely to the working direction. The carriage 13 is connected to a cable 15 that is deflected on one longitudinal side of the machine frame, the free ends of which are fastened to the cable drum 19 of a cable winch 16 on the other longitudinal side of the machine frame in such a way that the carriage can be moved in the transverse direction by rotating the cable drum. The road construction machine is characterised in that the cable drum 19 has a first and a second drum half 20, 21, one end of the cable 15 being fastened to one drum half 20 and the other end of the cable being fastened to the other drum half 21. The cable winch 16 can assume a first operating mode in which the first and second drum halves 20, 21 are connected to one another in such a way that the carriage 13 is moved by rotating the first and/or second drum half. The cable winch 16 can assume a second operating mode in which the first and second drum halves 20, 21 can be rotated in opposite directions at least in one direction of rotation, so that the cable tension can be adjusted by rotating one drum half relative to the other drum half.