Winch Cable Winding Control for Soil Compaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing construction machines for soil compaction experience issues with rope oscillation and incorrect winding on the winch drum, leading to increased wear and reduced load-bearing capacity of the suspension rope, which is exacerbated by the need for additional rope pressure devices that require space and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

Implement a sensor unit, such as a camera or radar, to monitor and correct the winding of the support cable on the winch drum, and use a coupling device to decouple and recouple the winch drive with the winch drum to manage cable tension effectively, combined with a control unit for automatic correction of misalignments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the winch drum is decelerated by a braking device after the compaction element hits the ground, then the rope oscillation is reduced, but the complexity of the device increases due to additional braking mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverope winding stabilityVSAvoidbraking device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful rope oscillation from the system by using a rope pressure device that applies localized pressure to the support cable on the winch drum, preventing the oscillation from affecting the winding without requiring complex braking mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The rope pressure device acts as an intermediary element between the winch drum and the support cable, using a pressure element to apply controlled force that stabilizes the cable winding during and after the compaction element's impact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If a rope pressure device with pressure elements is added to prevent rope oscillation, then the winding correctness is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewinding correctnessVSAvoidrope pressure device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rope pressure device implements local quality by applying pressure only at specific locations where the support cable contacts the winch drum, using individually adjustable pressure elements that target only the necessary areas to prevent oscillation without affecting the entire system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the support cable continues to oscillate after compaction element impact, then wear on the winch drum and suspension rope increases, but preventing this requires additional maintenance and device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice life of suspension ropeVSAvoidmaintenance requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rope pressure device is positioned and activated before significant oscillation can cause damage, applying preventive pressure to the support cable to stop oscillation at its source, thereby preventing wear and extending service life without requiring complex monitoring or reactive mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Prevents slack formation and misalignment of cable windings, reducing wear and ensuring correct winding, thereby extending the lifespan and load-bearing capacity of the suspension rope while minimizing maintenance needs.

Implementation Method 1

a camera unit, a radar unit, or another suitable sensor. The image from the camera unit can be displayed to a machine operator in the machine cab. Detection can be optical, contactless via energy waves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection: Photography

Implementation Method 2

a camera unit, a radar unit, or another suitable sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadar detection: Radar

Implementation Method 3

use a coupling device to decouple and recouple the winch drive with the winch drum to manage cable tension effectively

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical coupling: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 4

The recorded sensor signal for the rope winding is evaluated electronically, for example using image processing software

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImage processing: Image Processing

Implementation Method 5

the compaction element impacts the ground surface and thereby compacts the soil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentEP4249685B1Method and construction machine for soil compaction
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 BAUER MASCH GMBH
  • EP4249685B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4249685B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for soil compaction and a construction machine for this purpose, wherein a support cable is guided along a mast, the support cable is wound and unwound by means of a rotatably mounted winch drum of a cable winch, the winch drum is driven by a winch drive, and a compaction element is arranged on the support cable, which is moved vertically by the support cable, wherein the support cable is unwound from the winch drum of the cable winch and the compaction element is lowered from a position above a ground surface along the support cable to the ground surface, whereby the compaction element strikes the ground surface and the soil is compacted. According to the invention, it is provided that a winding of the support cable on the winch drum is detected by means of a sensor unit, in particular a camera unit or a radar unit.