Telescopic Column Monitoring for Cable Breakage Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Telescopic columns used in various technologies face risks of uncontrolled movement due to cable, belt, or chain breakage, posing safety hazards and requiring effective safety mechanisms to prevent accidents.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a monitoring unit that detects operating parameters of the connecting element, allowing for adaptive changes in the drive unit's state and providing a locking mechanism or alarm, along with a redundant drive system and damping unit to ensure safe and controlled movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a steel cable, belt, or chain is used for moving the telescopic column, then the telescopic column can be moved between positions, but there is a risk of breakage and uncontrolled lowering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovability of telescopic columnVSAvoidsafety against breakage and uncontrolled movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring unit continuously checks the connecting element (cable, belt, or chain) for signs of failure before actual breakage occurs. By detecting operating parameters such as tension, elongation, or anomalies in real-time, the system takes preliminary action to identify and respond to potential failures, preventing uncontrolled lowering and ensuring safety while maintaining movability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a monitoring unit is added to detect operating parameters of the connecting element, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of connecting element failuresVSAvoidcomplexity of monitoring and control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring unit establishes a feedback loop that continuously monitors the connecting element's operating parameters and provides real-time information to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables the system to detect failures, wear, or anomalies and automatically adjust the drive unit's operation or trigger alarms, improving reliability through a relatively simple additive monitoring layer rather than complex redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the drive unit is switched off upon detecting failure of the connecting element, then safety is improved, but productivity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of uncontrolled movementVSAvoidoperational downtime of telescopic column

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of the drive unit based on real-time monitoring data. When the connecting element is healthy, the drive unit operates normally to maintain productivity. Upon detecting failure or critical conditions, the system dynamically transitions to a safe state (switching off the drive unit or activating locking mechanisms), preventing uncontrolled movement while minimizing operational downtime through rapid detection and response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10698193B2Telescopic column

Publication Date: 2020.06.30 EWELLIX AB

AI summary

A telescopic column includes a first telescopic element and a second telescopic element moveable linearly with respect to one another, at least one drive unit connected to the first telescopic element, at least one connecting element configured to transmit a force from the drive unit to the second telescopic element, a monitoring unit configured to detect an operating parameter of the connecting element, and a switch configured to send a signal to the monitoring unit in response to the detected operating parameter being outside a predetermined range.