Stabilizer Leg Force Measurement via Support Beam Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stabilizer leg systems for mobile working machines require multiple sensors to accurately measure support forces, leading to increased risk of sensor damage and complex cable connections due to sensors being located near the ground and moving with the stabilizer leg.

Innovation Solution

A stabilizer leg arrangement with a support beam, telescopically extensible extension arm, and a measuring system comprising a length measuring device and force sensor on the support beam, allowing for the calculation of support force without sensors on movable parts, reducing the risk of damage and simplifying connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a force sensor is located in or close to the foot plate of the stabilizer leg, then the magnitude of the support force can be measured, but the risk of damage to the force sensor increases and the cable connection becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport force measurementVSAvoidsensor damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The force sensor is extracted from the foot plate and relocated to the support beam, separating the measurement function from the ground-contacting component. This allows accurate measurement of support forces while protecting the sensor from damage and reducing cable complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The extension arm acts as an intermediary mechanical element that transmits the force information from the foot plate to the force sensor located on the support beam. The length measuring device serves as another intermediary to provide positional information needed for force calculation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple sensors are used to measure differential pressure in the hydraulic cylinder, then the support force can be established, but the number of sensors and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport force measurementVSAvoidnumber of sensors
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The force sensor on the support beam serves multiple functions: it measures forces related to stabilizer leg operation, works with the length measuring device to calculate support forces, and eliminates the need for multiple pressure sensors in the hydraulic cylinder.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes from measuring hydraulic pressure parameters to directly measuring mechanical force parameters using the force sensor, combined with positional parameters from the length measuring device, simplifying the measurement approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3489419B1Stabilizer leg arrangement and mobile working machine comprising such a stabilizer leg arrangement
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 CARGOTEC PATENTER AB
  • EP3489419B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3489419B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP3489419B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A stabilizer leg arrangement (2) for a mobile working machine (1) comprising: - a support beam (20); - an extension arm (21) mounted to the support beam (20) and comprising an extension beam (22), which is telescopically mounted to the support beam and extends through an entrance opening (24) at an end thereof; - a stabilizer leg (26) with a foot plate (28) mounted to the extension arm (21); - a measuring system for establishing the magnitude of the support force (F3) acting on said foot plate in an operating position. The measuring system comprises a force sensor configured to generate a measuring value that depends on the contact force (F2) between the first extension beam and the support beam at the entrance opening, wherein the magnitude of the support force is established based on said measuring value and another measuring value that depends on the extension length of the extension arm.