Transportable Maintenance Station With Operator Workstations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transportable maintenance stations for military systems face inefficiencies due to limited maintenance capacity and frequent downtimes of the maintenance crane, as maintenance personnel often need to leave workstations to operate the crane, disrupting maintenance work.

Innovation Solution

A transportable maintenance station with a maintenance crane that features operator supports at each workstation, allowing maintenance to be performed directly at the workstation without interrupting operations, and a modular design that includes adjustable crane supports and rails for adaptable setup and efficient tool storage, enabling continuous operation and high maintenance efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple work stations share a single maintenance crane, then maintenance capacity increases and downtime decreases, but operation complexity increases and confusion arises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance capacityVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The maintenance station is divided into multiple independent work stations, each with its own dedicated maintenance crane. This segmentation eliminates operational conflicts between work stations while maintaining high maintenance capacity through parallel operations at multiple stations simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each work station is designed with multi-functional capabilities, allowing the same work station to handle different maintenance tasks and different military systems. This universality maintains high productivity while reducing the need for additional specialized equipment.

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

2Ease of operation

If maintenance personnel leave the workstation to operate the crane, then crane operation is possible, but maintenance work is interrupted and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrane operation accessibilityVSAvoidmaintenance efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A remote control device serves as an intermediary between the maintenance personnel and the crane. The personnel can operate the crane remotely from the workstation using this device, eliminating the need to physically leave the workstation while maintaining full crane operational capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The workstation is equipped with integrated crane control capabilities, allowing the maintenance personnel to service and control the crane directly from the workstation. This self-service approach ensures continuous maintenance work without personnel movement interruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If a single work station is used, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but maintenance capacity is limited and downtime increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestation configuration simplicityVSAvoidmaintenance capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The maintenance station is divided into multiple independent work stations, each with its own dedicated maintenance crane. This segmentation eliminates operational conflicts between work stations while maintaining high maintenance capacity through parallel operations at multiple stations simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4046954A1Transportable maintenance station
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 KNDS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4046954A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4046954A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP4046954A1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

The invention relates to a transportable maintenance station (1) for maintaining military systems (2) with a maintenance crane (4) for carrying out maintenance work at several workstations (3), which has a crane bridge (7) supported on crane supports (6) and movable relative to the workstations (3), wherein at least one crane support (6) is designed as an operating support (9) with an operator workstation (4) for carrying out the maintenance work. A further aspect of the invention is a method for operating such a maintenance station (1).